The aim of this cross-sectional survey of 2232 women and 1336 men (age range 20-91 yr) was to investigate individual risk factors for hip joint osteoarthritis (OA).
Standardized, weight-bearing pelvic radiographs were evaluated. Radiological hip joint OA was defined as minimum joint space width (JSW) </=2.0 mm. Hip dysplasia was evaluated according to common radiographic indices. Radiographic findings were correlated to general health and lifestyle information obtained at baseline examinations and questionnaires. The study focused on age; self-reported hip pain, occupational exposure to repeated daily lifting, body mass index, smoking and hip dysplasia.
Hip dysplasia (HD) prevalence ranged from 5.4-12.8% depending on the radiographic index applied. Hip OA prevalence was 1.0-2.5% in subjects <60 yr of age and 4.4-5.3% in subjects >/=60 yr of age. Of factors entered into logistic regression analyses, only age (P<0.001 for right hips and P<0.001 for left hips) and hip dysplasia (P<0.001 for right hips and P = 0.004 for left hips) were significantly associated with hip OA prevalence in women. In men, only hip dysplasia was associated with hip OA prevalence, P<0.001 in right hips and P = 0.001 in left hips.
Of the individual risk factors investigated in this study, only age and hip dysplasia were associated with the development of hip osteoarthritis.