Association between early menopause and incidence of Osteoarthritis in patients of Wardha district - An observational study

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive musculoskeletal disease involving the degeneration of cartilage and bone, and is one of the leading causes of pain and disability worldwide. It is a multi-factorial, slowly progressing, and primarily non-inflammatory degenerative disorder of the synovial joints that is often age related and/or trauma induced. Women are more prone than men. It rises in prevalence, incidence, and severity with polyarticular involvement following menopause. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the association between early menopause and incidence of Osteoarthritis in patients of Wardha District. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 60 post-menopausal female subjects having normal menopause and early menopause between the age group of 50 to 75 years of Wardha District. Group A comprised normal menopause subjects and Group B comprised early menopausal subjects. Then incidence of Osteoarthritis in both groups was assessed on the basis of diagnostic criteria by filling predesigned proforma and comparison was done by statistical analysis. Observation and Discussion: Patients of group B showed diagnostic features of Osteoarthritis like crepitus, restricted range of movement , bony enlargement and morning stiffness <30 minutes in more number of patient as compared to group A. This clearly indicates that incidence of Osteoarthritis was more in patients having early menopause as compared to normal menopause. Conclusion: This study concluded that there is strong association between early menopause and occurrence of Osteoarthritis.