Factors Related to the Prevalence of Osteoarthritis among women aged 50 and older

This study aims to identify the factors influencing the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) among women aged 50 and older and to provide foundational data for developing intervention strategies for OA management. The study analyzed data from 9,590 women aged 50 and above who responded to the OA prevalence question in the 2016-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), out of 39,738 respondents. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used, and Rao-Scott chi-square tests were performed to compare groups based on OA prevalence. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing OA prevalence. The findings revealed that the OA prevalence rate among Korean women aged 50 and older is 23.8%. Statistically significant factors associated with OA prevalence include age, education level, marital status, residential area, alcohol consumption, aerobic physical activity, walking, obesity, and depression. Specifically, compared to women in their 50s, those in their 60s had a 2.3 times higher risk, 70s had a 3.3 times higher risk, and 80s had a 3.5 times higher risk of OA. Regarding education level, women with less than middle school education had a 1.8 times higher risk, and those with less than elementary school education had a 2.3 times higher risk of OA compared to college graduates. Obesity, defined as a BMI of 25 or higher, was associated with a 1.05 times higher risk of OA compared to a BMI under 24. Additionally, depression was linked to a 0.93 times lower risk of OA. Based on these results, there is a need to develop multifaceted and individualized nursing intervention programs to manage and prevent OA among older women in Korea.