Distribution of major joint disorders and associated factors among adults in tertiary care settings of Peshawar: A cross sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69723/njms.05.01.0685Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis, , Osteoarthritis, Gout,, Comorbidity, PakistanAbstract
BACKGROUND:
Joint disorders are a major yet under-recognized public health challenge, contributing substantially to disability, reduced quality of life, and long-term healthcare costs. In low-resource countries like Pakistan, their impact is magnified by a high burden of comorbidities. Detailed information on their patterns, especially in busy tertiary care settings, remains limited here. The lack of local evidence makes it difficult to design effective prevention and care strategies.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the distribution of major joint disorders and associated factors among adults attending tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan, and to assess the comorbidity burden in this population.
METHODOLOGY:
It was a cross-sectional study conducted from June to November 2022 in four tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar. A sample of 400 patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with joint disorders was recruited by non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, lifestyle factors, clinical diagnosis, and comorbidities. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-26, with results presented in tables as frequencies and percentages.
RESULTS:
The mean age of the sample was 54±13.06 years, with 54.5% males and 45.5% females. Osteoarthritis was the most common disorder (35%), followed by gout (27.5%) and rheumatoid arthritis (24.5%). Gout was predominant in males (37%), while osteoarthritis was more frequent in females (45%). Most of the subjects were married (75%), non-smokers (68%) and belonged to middle-income category (58.5%). Majority of them did not have family history of joint disorder (76%) or history of prior trauma (66%). A high comorbidity burden was observed and 92% of the participants reported comorbidities, most common being hypertension (54%) and diabetes mellitus (22.5%).
CONCLUSION:
There is a high burden of osteoarthritis and gout among adults in tertiary care settings in Peshawar, compounded by a very high rate of comorbidities. These findings underscore the need for integrated, preventive public health strategies and multidisciplinary care models for joint disorders in Pakistan.
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