Magnitude of Primary Knee Osteoarthritis among the Healthcare Workers at BMU

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of disability among older adults and is increasingly recognized as a significant occupational health issue, especially among healthcare workers who are frequently exposed to repetitive knee strain. This study aims to identify the burden of primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among healthcare workers at a tertiary care institution in Bangladesh. Objective: The present study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among healthcare workers at BMU. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 185 healthcare workers selected by simple random sampling at BMU. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) was diagnosed using the 2016 ACR clinical criteria. Data were collected using a modified and Bangla-adapted COPCORD questionnaire, including PHQ-9 and B-HAQ-DI tools. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate BMI. Data were analyzed using SPSS v23.0 with appropriate statistical tests; a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among 185 healthcare workers, 42.2% were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and 40% had a B-HAQ-DI score ≥0.8, indicating functional disability. Most KOA cases (57.7%) were female, and mild disability was the most common severity (28.9%). KOA prevalence was similar across physicians (40.5%), nurses (43.1%), and supporting staff (44%). Age was significantly associated with KOA (p = 0.034), with the highest prevalence in the 41–50 age group. Logistic regression identified increasing age (OR 1.064, p = 0.003) and female sex (OR 2.153, p = 0.020) as independent predictors. Conclusion: Knee osteoarthritis was prevalent among healthcare workers, with age and female sex as key predictors, highlighting the need for early intervention and preventive strategies in this population J Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2026; 32 (02): 41-47