Epidemiology of osteoarthritis in Western Europe

Osteoarthrosis is the most prevalent joint disease worldwide. The burden for the patient, as well as for the economic system, is enormous. Epidemiological studies are valuable for estimating the number of affected people and allowing the development of strategies for prevention. The rate of new cases (so-called incidence) of radiologically defined osteoarthrosis in European populations is at least 1% per year. Clinical symptomatic osteoarthritis is found in more than 8% of the persons aged 50 to 70 years. Knowledge about the risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis is one of the most important features in epidemiological studies today. Well-known risk factors are age, sex, overweight, but also injury and an overloading of joints. These factors have a clear influence on the etiology of osteoarthrosis and are a basis for further development of measures for the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of the disease.