The purpose of the paper was to generate up-to-date, representative osteoarthritis prevalence data for individual population subgroups and to identify potential risk factors.
A cross-sectional study, the "First National Health Survey", investigated the prevalence of osteoarthritis, comorbidity and health-relevant behaviours of the post-unification German population on the basis of interviews with physicians and medical evaluations conducted in the period from October 1997 to March 1990. The study was based on a net sample comprising 6205 subjects aged 18-79 years.
The three main correlates for osteoarthritis are age, obesity and occupational stress factors. Osteoarthritis patients are more likely to have osteoporosis, thyroid disease, chronic bronchial disease, hypertension and elevated blood lipids, but do not tend to have a higher incidence of diabetes.
Our data show the importance of preventive behavioural approaches such as weight management and workplaces designed to limit joint overuse.