Prevalence of Hand Osteoarthritis and Factors Associated with Pain in Korean Farmers

Young Sun Suh¹, Yun-Hong Cheon¹, Hyun-Ok Kim¹, Ki-Soo Park², Hye Song Lim¹, Min-Gyu Jeon¹, Young-Sool Hah³ and Sang-Il Lee¹, ¹Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea, ²Department of Preventive Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea, ³Clinical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea

Meeting: 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Date of first publication: September 29, 2015

Keywords: depression, osteoarthritis and pain

Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 8, 2015

Title: Osteoarthritis - Clinical Aspects Poster I: Treatments and Metabolic Risk Factors

Session Type: ACR Poster Session A

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Farming activity is burdened work with excessive use of hands. Thus, farmers are expected to have high prevalence of hand osteoarthritis (HOA). However, there is a lack of studies investigating prevalence and characteristics of HOA in Korean farmers. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the prevalence of HOA and to identify factors that influence hand pain among farmers in rural areas of Korea.

Methods: The study was conducted from June 2013 to Dec 2014 with 700 farmers in Gyeong-nam Province of Korea. Clinical evaluation for hand joints was performed and the plain radiographs of both hands were taken. The Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) was used to assess pain severity of hand joints. Radiographic HOA was defined as Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade≥2 on plain radiographs and symptomatic HOA as KL grade≥2 with pain/aching/stiffness at the same joints. Severe HOA was defined KL grade≥3. Presence of HOA at individual level was defined as ≥1 affected joint. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2).

Results: Participants comprised of 53% women and 47% men with mean age of 59.7±8.6 years. The mean farming duration was 30.0±14.3 years. The overall prevalence of radiographic and symptomatic HOA was 59.1%, and 13.9%, respectively. The prevalence of radiographic and symptomatic HOA was higher in women (62.3%, 14.8%) than in men (55.6%, 12.8%). Among participants with radiographic HOA, AUSCAN pain scores were also higher in women (99.9±106.8) than men (68.0±99.9, p=0.002). Linear regression analysis showed that women and depressive symptoms were associated with AUSCAN pain score after adjustment for radiographic severity of HOA, total numbers of affected joints, and frequently repetitive hand use or and pinch grip working during harvest.

Conclusion: The prevalence of HOA and AUSCAN pain scores were higher in women compared to men. And AUSCAN pain scores were associated with female gender and depressive symptoms. Therefore, our results show the need for depression care management in female farmers to reduce hand pain.

Disclosure: Y. S. Suh, None; Y. H. Cheon, None; H. O. Kim, None; K. S. Park, None; H. S. Lim, None; M. G. Jeon, None; Y. S. Hah, None; S. I. Lee, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Suh YS, Cheon YH, Kim HO, Park KS, Lim HS, Jeon MG, Hah YS, Lee SI. Prevalence of Hand Osteoarthritis and Factors Associated with Pain in Korean Farmers [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015; 67 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-hand-osteoarthritis-and-factors-associated-with-pain-in-korean-farmers/. Accessed .

« Back to 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-hand-osteoarthritis-and-factors-associated-with-pain-in-korean-farmers/