Abstract

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Background
Keywords
Findings
Authors
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?

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Background

The time between symptom onset and physician diagnosis is a period when people with osteoarthritis can make lifestyle changes to reduce pain, improve function and delay disability.

Data and methods

This study analyses data for a nationally representative sample of 4,565 Canadians aged 20 or older who responded to the Arthritis component of the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada. Descriptive statistics are used to report the prevalence of hip and knee osteoarthritis; the mean age of symptom onset and diagnosis; medication use; and contacts with health professionals during the previous year.

Results

Among people with a physician diagnosis of arthritis, 37% reported osteoarthritis. Of these, 70% experienced pain in the hip(s), knee(s), or hip(s) and knee(s). Close to half (48%) of these people experienced symptoms the same year that they were diagnosed; 42% experienced symptoms at least a year before the diagnosis; and 10% experienced symptoms after the diagnosis. Among those who had symptoms before diagnosis, the average time between symptom onset and diagnosis was 7.7 years.

Interpretation

Individuals with osteoarthritis may experience symptoms for several years before they obtain a physician diagnosis.

Keywords

Arthritis, disease progression, non-prescription drugs, patient education, physical therapy, prescription drugs, occupational therapy

Findings

Osteoarthritis affects more than 10% of Canadians aged 15 or older. It can result in disability and the need for joint replacement surgery. The strong association between osteoarthritis and advancing age means that as the population of Canada ages, it is important to understand the prevalence and impact of the condition and strategies that individuals use to manage their symptoms. The time between symptom onset and physician diagnosis is a period when people with osteoarthritis can make lifestyle changes to reduce pain, improve function and delay disability. [Full Text]

Authors

Karen V. MacDonald and Deborah A. Marshall  (damarsha@ucalgary.ca) are with the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. Claudia Sanmartin and Kellie Langlois are with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.