The Risk factors of Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the one type of arthritis which affects 7% of the population and is the 15th leading cause of disability. However, the etiology of this disease is complex and its pathogenesis is still under investigation. The pathological changes seen in OA most commonly include synovitis, osteophyte formation, cartilage degradation, thickening of the subchondral bone, etc. which may lead to symptoms such as stiffness, movement disorder and swelling. OA generally starts with the damage of the articular cartilage of the synovial joint which later leads to a cascade of effects that ultimately leads to joint destruction. Some of the identified risk factors of OA include old age, gender, genetics, obesity, and neurological disorder. However, even with these factors being identified, many of the mechanisms responsible for progression to OA behind these risk factors remain unclear. This paper reviews different articles regarding the risk factors of OA and summarizes the possible mechanisms behind each risk factor.