Radiographic case definitions and prevalence of osteoarthrosis of the hipA survey of 4 151 subjects in the Osteoarthritis Substudy of the Copenhagen City Heart Study

Abstract

Background The diagnosis of osteoarthrosis (OA) is founded on radiographic evidence of joint degeneration and characteristic subjective symptoms. Due to the lack of consensus radiographic case definitions, the prevalence and incidence of OA reported in the literature varies. The aims of the current study were to establish an accurate and workable radiographic definition of OA in hip joints and to examine the association of OA (thus defined) with self-reported pain.Methods Radiographic features of hip OA were classified in pelvic radiographs of 3 807 subjects (1 448 males and 2 359 females) according to the OA classifications of Kellgren and Lawrence (1957) and Croft (1990), and according to minimum joint space width (JSW) of 2.0 mm regardless of other radiographic features of OA. The relationships between these radiographic discriminators and self-reported hip pain were investigated.Results Formation of cysts, osteophytes and subchondral sclerosis was significantly more frequent in men. Average minimum JSW was narrower in women than in men (p