Joint laxity and hypermobility in adults at an industrial area of Karachi.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of joint laxity and hypermobility in adults at Industrial area of Karachi.

STUDY DESIGN

An observational survey.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The Department of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi, from September to December 2008.

METHODOLOGY

Adults between the ages of 14-60 years presenting in the consultant OPD for different medical conditions were included and examined for joint laxity and hypermobility according to Beighton's score. A structured proforma was designed to record all information. Chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance between two categorical variables. P-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant.

RESULTS

Out of 1000 adults, 717 (71.7%) were males and 283 (28.3%) were females. Seventy (7%) adults had joint hypermobility including 48 (68.57%) males and 22 (31.43%) females. A total of 54 (77.1%) patients were found to have joint laxity; this included 75.9% males and 24.1% females, while 16 (22.9%) cases were having joint hypermobility including 43.7% males and 52.3% females. The Beighton score found higher in females than in males (p < 0.04). Family history of joint hypermobility was positive in 28 (40%) of the affected individuals. Individuals aged younger than 26 years scored higher than those aged above.

CONCLUSION

Joint laxity and hypermobility was not an uncommon rheumatological entity in the study group. It was significantly greater in females in terms of Beighton's score.