PREVALENCE OF OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE JOINT AMONG ELDERLY POPULATION IN A RURAL AREA
To study the Prevalence and association of osteoarthritis of the knee joint with selected socio-demographic variables in the elderly population above 60 years in a rural area using ACR clinical criteria. we did a community based cross sectional study in the elderly population above 60 years residing in Nadubhuvanagiri Health Sub Centre (HSC), an area under Govt. Primary Health Centre, Bhuvanagiri, Cuddalore Health Unit District, Tamilnadu from August 2014 to April 2015.The American College of Rheumatology(ACR) clinical classification criteria was used to diagnose osteoarthritis knee. The prevalence of osteoarthritis was 39 %( 95% C.I., 34.48-43.49).Age and BMI (Body mass Index) were found to be independent risk factor for osteoarthritis knee. The Prevalence of osteoarthritis knee was high among the elderly population. In a resource constrained rural setup, it can be an effective tool for the general practitioners and orthopaedicians in clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis knee