6016.0: Thursday, November 16, 2000 - 8:30 AM

Abstract #7122

Findings from the 1st Decade of the Clearwater Osteoarthritis Study

William B. Ward, MA, MPH, DrPH1, Jae Eun Lee, MPH, DrPH2, John Barrett, MD3, Betty J. Hall, RN4, and Jung Hye Lee, MPH1. (1) Research Unit, Arthritis Research Institute of America, Suite 240, 300 S. Duncan Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33755, (2) Department of Health and Social Behavior, Harvard University School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, 617-469-1216, jelee@hsph.harvard.edu, (3) President, Florida Knee and Orthopedic Center, 1660 Gulf to Bay, Clearwater, FL 33755, (4) Executive Director, Arthritis Research Institute of America

Every two years since 1986, the Arthritis Research Institute of America in Clearwater, Florida has enrolled/assessed over 1500 men and women aged 45+ who are residents of the Tampa Bay, Florida area for signs of osteoarthritis and its progression.

Findings to date demonstrated that those who had completed at least some college were significantly less likely [p<.05] to report knee pain in the last year. Men were slightly less likely to report knee pain in the last year than were women. Those who were married or divorced were significantly [p<.05] less likely to report knee pain than others. Low scores in tension and worry indeces were positively related to reported knee pain while negatively related to reported energy levels. There were strongly significant negative relations between the study's measure of energy and feelings of tension, and between energy and feelings of depression.

In initial efforts at model building, the first visit of the group who spent less than two years in the study was compared with the fifth visit of those who spent two or more years in the study. Time in the study [2+ years compared with <2 years] was significantly [p<.001] [and positively] related to Physical Function scores in the AIMS2 assessment tool [measures of mobility level, walking and bending, hand and finger function, self care ability, and ability to do household tasks]. Both regression and multivariate analysis of variance [MANOVA] statistics were run and both approaches yielded significant results.

Additional results will be included in the presentation.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will be able to recognize the extent of osteoarthritis as a preventable problem in the US.
  2. Participants will be able to articulate the relationship between osteoarthritis [OA] and specific risk factors for OA.
  3. Participants will be able to discuss expectations of a longitudinal OA study aimed at residents over 45 in primarily white Pinellas, Florida.

Keywords: Exercise, Arthritis

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Arthritis Research Institute of America, Suite 240 300 S. Duncan Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Research Associate at ARIA

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA