Association of Parity with Knee Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder, particularly among postmenopausal women, yet the role of parity as a potential risk factor remains inconclusive in current literature. Limited regional data and methodological inconsistencies create a significant research gap in understanding reproductive factors contributing to OA. Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between parity and knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women, hypothesizing that higher parity may increase the risk of developing OA. Methods: A case-control observational study was conducted at Akhtar Saeed Trust Hospital involving 68 postmenopausal women (34 cases with knee OA and 34 controls without OA), aged ≥50 years. Participants were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire and parity was categorized as uniparous or multiparous. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and p-values were calculated using the Chi-square test. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board (IRB/ASMC/2023/029), and informed consent was secured per the Helsinki Declaration. Results: The odds of knee OA in multiparous women were higher but not statistically significant (OR = 0.622; 95% CI: 0.184–2.105; p = 0.493). No significant association was observed between parity and knee OA. Conclusion: The findings suggest that parity is not significantly associated with knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women. Clinically, reproductive history alone may not warrant prioritization in OA risk stratification, and future research should explore multifactorial contributors.