Women over 40 most affected by osteoarthritis

Women over the age of 40 are most affected by osteoarthritis and this is corroborated by the fact that they form 60 percent of the patients that undergo total knee replacement, an expert said Thursday.

However, despite this, it has been observed that women delay surgery due to various factors which leaves them with agony and incapacitation, he said.

"Osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common cause of disability. And it is a disease of age that affects more women than men on a 60-40 basis," said Arthritis Foundation of India (AFI) chairman Sushil Sharma.

"General physicians sometimes have advised patients to wait as long as they can before pursuing knee replacements, with the thinking that it is an once-in-a-lifetime surgery that should last an average of 15 to 20 years.

"However, delaying surgery beyond a point can limit the quality of life of patients because how they function before surgery have bearing on their performance afterward," he said.

The Arthritis Foundation of India appealed against the general lack of awareness and negligence towards the healthcare of patients with osteoarthritis.

Today with the advancement in technology there are knees made of newer material like oxidized zirconium that last longer with the replacement lasting for up to 30 years, it said in a release.