Prevalence and associated factors of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis among Chinese adults aged 60 years or older: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) are common age-related skeletal disorders in older adults, resulting in a significant burden for healthcare. However, research on the epidemiological data of bone health in older Chinese adults is still scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of OA and OP and their associated factors among Chinese adults aged 60 years or older.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter community-based cross-sectional study in five Chinese cities between March 2021 and March 2023. Individuals aged 60 years or older were enrolled, and standardized questionnaires, radiographic examinations, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed. The primary outcomes were the prevalence of OA and OP, and associated factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 4,331 participants with complete epidemiologic data were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of OA and OP was 55.7% (95% CI, 54.2-57.1%) and 42.6% (95% CI, 41.1-44.1%), respectively. Female sex and increasing age were associated with higher odds of OA, while female sex, increasing age, height loss, and history of traumatic spinal fracture were associated with higher odds of OP. Vitamin D supplementation was associated with lower odds of both OA and OP.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggested a high burden of age-related skeletal disorders among older adults in this multicenter population, highlighting the need for early screening and prevention strategies.