Prevalence of Foot Pain Across an International Consortium of Population‐Based Cohorts

Abstract

Objective Despite the potential burden of foot pain, some of the most fundamental epidemiologic questions surrounding the foot remain poorly explored. The prevalence of foot pain has proven to be difficult to compare across existing studies due to variations in case definitions. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of foot pain in several international population‐based cohorts using original data and to explore differences in the case definitions used. Methods Foot pain variables were examined in 5 cohorts: the Chingford 1000 Women Study, the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, the Framingham Foot Study, the Clinical Assessment Study of the Foot, and the North West Adelaide Health Study. One question about foot pain was chosen from each cohort based on its similarity to the American College of Rheumatology pain question. Results The precise definition of foot pain varied between the cohorts. The prevalence of foot pain ranged from 13% to 36% and was lowest in the cohort in which the case definition specific to pain was used, compared to the 4 remaining cohorts in which a definition included components of pain, aching, or stiffness. Foot pain was generally more prevalent in women and obese individuals and generally increased with age, with the prevalence being much lower in younger participants (ages 20–44 years). Conclusion Foot pain is common and is associated with female sex, older age, and obesity. Estimates of the prevalence of foot pain are likely to be affected by the case definition used. Therefore, in future population studies, the use of consistent measures of data collection must be considered.

Foot health and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

“…Our study shows that patients with RA are more likely to present structural alterations in the foot and hence to experience physical and/or psychosocial deterioration than when this condition is absent. 34 Furthermore, the long-term evolution of the disease may be directly related to psychosocial and emotional perceptions. It should also be taken into account that in our study groups most of the patients were female, although this reflects their prevalence among the general population affected by RA and foot pain.…”

Chronic Foot Pain and Foot Solutions in Adults from Different Professions: the I-Corps-National Science Foundation Foot Health Survey.

“…Our study has added to the knowledge of not only examining prevalence, but also pain perception and daily experiences of chronic foot pain in both men and women in various occupations. These differences have been widely reported in previous studies 14,22,23,31 , and have been attributed to other factors such as foot wearing habits, especially in women and prolonged standing and pain perception 12,31 . Women are more likely to report musculoskeletal pain in general 31 , and pain perception 31 .…”

“…These differences have been widely reported in previous studies 14,22,23,31 , and have been attributed to other factors such as foot wearing habits, especially in women and prolonged standing and pain perception 12,31 . Women are more likely to report musculoskeletal pain in general 31 , and pain perception 31 . In addition to the women reporting more foot pain, other studies have shown that moderate-tosevere foot pain is highly prevalent in a university-educated population and is independently associated with women 7 .…”

Natural History of Radiographic First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Nineteen‐Year Population‐Based Cohort Study

“…Both progression (defined as a score of 2 at year 6 and 3 at year 23) and worsening (defined as a score of 0, 1, or 2 at year 6, increasing to higher score of 1, 2, or 3 at year 23) of OA were more evident in the right first MTP joints. Very few studies have reported on the epidemiology of foot OA, which makes comparison of the cohort data that does exist in this field challenging (30). Figures for radiographic foot OA prevalence estimates vary considerably depending on the population, the radiographic views taken, which foot joints are examined, the grading systems applied, and whether symptomatic or asymptomatic foot OA is studied (9,26).…”