Prevalence of significant knee pain among older Americans: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of persistent knee pain among older adu lts in the US. DESIGN: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey with an in-perso n interview and medical examination SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Between 1988 and 1994, 6596 adults aged 60 to 90 years were examined as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examinati on Survey III. Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic blacks were oversampled t o produce reliable estimates for these groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked to report whether they h ad experienced knee pain on most days for the 6 weeks preceding their medic al exam. RESULTS: Overall, 18.1% of US men and 23.5% of US women aged 60 years and o lder reported knee pain. Sixty- to ninety-year-old men reported knee pain l ess frequently than their age-matched female counterparts. There was a tren d for reports of knee pain to increase steadily as these adults aged from 6 0 to 85 years. The highest prevalence of knee pain was reported among 85- t o 90-year-old men (23.7%) and women (30.0%). Among non-Hispanic white adult s older than age 60, 18.4% of men and 22.0% of women reported knee pain. Re ports of knee pain among non-Hispanic black men and Mexican American men we re similar to those of their non-Hispanic white counterparts. In contrast, 26.4% of Mexican American women and 32.8% of non-Hispanic black women repor ted knee pain. We also found that difficulty in performing physical functio ning activities was associated with a higher prevalence of knee pain. CONCLUSIONS: Many US adults older than age 60 years report knee pain, and t he prevalence is higher in older adults. Reports of knee pain are highest a mong non-Hispanic black women and the oldest Americans. Intervention strate gies are needed to prevent and better manage knee pain among older US adult s to stem the adverse health consequences and diminished quality of life as sociated with this common problem.