CHARACTERISTICS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS AMONG KUWAITIS - A HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY

Sixty-nine Kuwaiti patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were studied. Pri mary knee OA was seen in 65 (94.2%) patients. The mean age of this gro up was 53.18 years with a range of 39-97 years. The female to male rat io was 2.82:1. OA was bilateral in 84.62% and predominantly Involved t he medial tibiofemoral joint. According to Kellgren's grading of knee OA, grade 1 changes were present in 40.0%, grade 2 in 32.5%, grade 3 i n 22.5% and grade 4 in 5.0%. Grade I obesity was seen in 13%, grade II in 64% and grade III in 23% of patients. Generalised primary nodular OA was seen in only four patients, all of whom were women. Primary OA of the hip joint and chondrocalcinosis were conspicuous by their absen ce.