The Predictive Factors of Osteoarthritis Risk Among the Elderly People in Ngewngem Queen Sirikit Health Center

Abstract

The predictive research aimed to determine the personal factors, self-care behavior, the severity of knee pain, and the predictive equation of the osteoarthritis risk factors among the elderly people. The sample was 240 elderly people with initial signs of knee pain but have not been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Data collected were then analyzed using statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and binary logistic regression analysis. The results of this study indicated that most of the respondents were females with the average weight of 56.4 kg., the average height of 156 cm., mean BMI of 22.8. In terms of self-care behaviors when suffering from knee pain, most of them relied on walking-assistive device, herbal compress massage, and weight control, respectively. Most respondents had a moderate level of Self-care behavior and knee pain severity ( = 29.64, SD = 3.20;  = 24.25, SD = 0.74, respectively), Based on a binary logistic regression analysis, weight (β = -0.160, p 0.014) could predict 22.5 % of the variation in the risk of osteoarthritis among the elderly people. The results of this research could be summarized that weight was a major risk factor for developing osteoarthritis. The behavior modification activities should be organized by relevant agencies for weight control among the elderly, including dietary behavior and consumption of fruits with very sweet taste as well as exercising. These behavior controls could maintain their weight under normal conditions in order to reduce the severity of osteoarthritis or other potential complications.