A longitudinal study of the occurrence of joint complaints in elderly people.

Joint complaints were studied in two cohorts longitudinally followed at 4-5 year intervals between the ages of 70 and 79, representative of the elderly population of Göteborg, Sweden. Joint complaints were reported by 30-43% of the women and by 15-25% of the men. A significant increase of joint complaints was found in both sexes between the ages of 70 and 75 but not thereafter. The knee joints were the most common site of complaints in both sexes. Complaints were not consistently reported by the probands at all examinations, however, and a 'disappearance' of complaints with age was found. Complaints on all three occasions were reported by 15% of the women and 3% of the men. An association was observed between repeatedly reported complaints and radiographic osteoarthritis as well as with self-reported rheumatoid arthritis.