Prevalence of hip osteoarthritis and acetabular dysplasia in French and Japanese adults

Objective. To determine ethnic variations of acetabular morphology, and to delineate their relationship with hip osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. Radiographs of 283 French men, 118 French women, 414 Japanese men and 368 Japanese women, aged 20-79 yr, who underwent intravenous urography were assessed by a single observer for morphometric measurement and hip OA scoring. Results. The standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) for hip OA was highest in F rench men and lowest in Japanese men: whereas the SMR for acetabular dyspla sia was highest in Japanese women and lowest in French men. French men and women had the highest centre-edge angle, followed by Japanese men then Japa nese women. Conclusion. In a large number of subjects assessed by a single observer, th is study confirms other previous reports that the relationship between acet abular dysplasia and risk of hip OA is negative.