From earlier studies in Africa and the Caribbean, researchers expected to find little hip osteoarthritis among U.S. blacks, and so the new results were a surprise, Jordan said. Differences may result from diet, bone density disparities, genetic mixing or differing work experiences. Or they may result from some combination of the various factors.
"This study is important because it shows, really for the first time, that African-Americans have more severe knee osteoarthritis than Caucasians do in the United States, and that most of this, in women, is associated with greater body mass index," the physician said.
One take-home message is that people in general, and black women in particular, need to control their weight better, she said. Effective weight control would go a long way toward minimizing disabilities later in life.
"People can reduce the chance of developing knee and hip osteoarthritis or reduce their severity by losing weight and avoiding activities that put heavy physical stress on joints," Jordan said. "Evidence suggests it's also important to keep thigh and other leg muscles strong through non-stressful exercises."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases support the continuing research.
The number of Americans suffering from osteoarthritis is expected to grow from 40 million people to 60 million by 2020, Jordan said.
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Contact: David Williamson
David_Williamson@unc.edu
919-962-8596
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
30-Oct-2000