The Epidemiology Of Primary Osteoarthrosis Of The Knee In Greenland

Abstract

Greenlanders (295), 5% of the population of Greenland, in the age group 40 yr or more, were investigated regarding primary oesteoarthrosis of the knee. The pathological changes were categorized as mild, intermediate or severe. Subjects (86, 29%) had osteoarthrosis and the mild form accounted for 72% of these, while only 1 individual had severe osteoarthrosis. Significantly more individuals from the west coast of Greenland (a mixed Eskimo-European population) as compared with individuals from the east coast (genuine Eskimos) had osteoarthrosis of the knee (38 and 18%, respectively). An investigation of the sex distribution revealed more osteoarthrosis among west coast women than among east coast women (P < 0.05), whereas no such differences were found among the men. The difference between the prevalence rates of osteoarthrosis of the knee in the 2 population groups might reflect differences in occupation and possibly also a genetic predisposition.