CORRELATES OF SELF-REPORTED ARTHRITIS IN ADULT PAKISTANI POPULATION

Authors

  • Irshad Ali Shaikh
  • Masood Ali Shaikh

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease with high
morbidity and adverse economic impact on societies1.
The most common risk factors include age and
obesity2. To describe, age gender, literacy and
residency status associated with self reported arthritis
in adults and its prevalence in Pakistan, we used data
from the National Health Survey of Pakistan (NHSP)
1990-94; with written permission from the federal
Ministry of Health, Islamabad. We selected all the
adults aged 26 and above who responded to the
question Have you ever had Arthritis? individuals
responding affirmatively to this question were
identified as having arthritis. A two-stage stratified
sample design was adopted for NHSP3. Design-based
analysis with SUDAAN 9.01 was done using
Logistic regression, Odds Ratios (OR) were
computed for the association of arthritis with various
demographic variables.
The overall prevalence of arthritis 39%, and
95% Confidence Interval (CI) was 34%, 43% (n =
5851). In males arthritis prevalence was 30% 95% CI
25%, 34%, while prevalence in females was 47% CI
41%, 53%. Adults with arthritis were more likely to
be in the age group of 41 to 55 years (OR 1.58, 95%
CI 1.37, 1.82), and 56 years and above group (OR
1.84, 95% CI 1.60, 2.1) compared to 26-40 year age
group. Males were almost half as likely to report
arthritis compared to females (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.40,
0.66). Arthritic adults were more likely to be rural
dwellers (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.12, 2.08) compared to
urban dwellers, and compared to literate adults
(defined as being able to read and write) adults who
were not literate were more likely to report arthritis
(OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.41, 2.12). While compared to
single adults, married adults were more likely to
report arthritis (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.36, 2.28), no
statistically significant association was found
between reporting arthritis and being in the other
category comprising of divorced, widowed and
separated adults. Results of Hosmer-Lemeshow
goodness-of-fit tests using Wald F and Chi-Square
conclude that the model was a good fit for the data.
The results of this unique survey,
demonstrate that rural women above the age of 40
years were most likely to report arthritis; health
education efforts at early diagnosis and treatment
would be particularly beneficial for this group.

References

Buckwalter JA, Saltzman C, Brown T. The

impact of osteoarthritis: implications for

research. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004

Oct;(427 Suppl):S6-15.

Sowers M: Epidemiology of risk factors for

osteoarthritis: systemic factors.

Curr Opin Rheumatol 2001, 13:447-451.

National Health Survey of Pakistan: Health

profile of the People of Pakistan, 1990-94.

Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan Medical

Research Council; 1998.

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How to Cite

Shaikh, I. A., & Shaikh, M. A. (2005). CORRELATES OF SELF-REPORTED ARTHRITIS IN ADULT PAKISTANI POPULATION. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 17(4). Retrieved from https://jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk/index.php/jamc/article/view/4208

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2005): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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