ASSOCIATION OF OVERWEIGHT, TRAUMA AND WORKLOAD WITH COXARTHROSIS - A HEALTH SURVEY OF 7,217 PERSONS

In a population sample health survey, body mass, previous trauma and p hysical stress were studied for associations with coxarthrosis. A samp le of 8,000 persons representative of the Finnish population aged 30 o r over was invited for examination, and 90 percent participated. On th e basis of a standardized clinical examination, a physician diagnosed coxarthrosis in 6 percent of the women and 4 percent of the men. The p revalence rose with age. In persons with a past traumatic lower-limb i njury, the odds ratio of unilateral coxarthrosis was 2.1 and of bilate ral coxarthrosis 1.5, as adjusted for sex, age and other determinants using logistic regression. The sum index reflecting self-reported feat ures of physical stress in present or previous occupations was directl y proportional to the prevalence of coxarthrosis. Body mass index (kg/ m2) was closely associated with bilateral coxarthrosis; the adjusted o dds ratio (95 percent confidence intervals) for indices > 35, compared to those < 25, was 2.8 (1.4-5.7). In terms of the population attribut able fraction, prior trauma, physical stress and body mass were estima ted to explain 59 percent of the prevalence of coxarthrosis. The poten tial for primary prevention may be great, but longitudinal population studies are necessary to elucidate causal significance of the risk fac tors.