EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF DEGENERATIVE DISEASES OF THE ARMS OF THE HAND IN WOMEN OF SAMARKAND

Abstract

Background: Degenerative diseases of the hand joints (hand osteoarthritis, HOA) are highly prevalent in women and substantially impact daily functioning. Despite growing research on knee and hip osteoarthritis in Uzbekistan, HOA remains under-characterized regionally.
Objective:  To  describe  clinical-epidemiological  features  of  HOA  among  women  in Samarkand, determine risk factors, lesion patterns, and age-related characteristics.
Methods: Prospective descriptive study at Samarkand State Medical University (January 2022–July 2024). We enrolled 327 women (35–82 years; mean 58.6 ± 11.2) with hand pain, stiffness, or deformity. Inclusion criteria: ACR (1990) clinical HOA; radiographic Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) stage ≥ II; no active inflammatory arthropathy. Assessments included VAS pain, questionnaires (demographics, occupation, menopause, comorbidities), BMI, laboratory tests, hand radiography, and standardized ultrasound (US) protocol (Negmatov, 2023). Statistics: descriptive analyses, Pearson correlations, multivariable logistic regression; p<0.05 significant.
Results: Postmenopausal  women  comprised  72.3%  (menopause  >10  years  in  43.2%). Physically demanding occupations constituted 63.1%. Symptoms: movement-related pain (89%), morning  stiffness  (54%),  deformity  (67%),  limited  motion  (48%).  Phenotypes:  nodal  HOA (Heberden/Bouchard) 64.5%; rhizarthrosis (first CMC) 38.2%. Radiography: KL II 41.9%, KL III 33.3%, KL IV 8.2%; in 16.6% radiographic changes were minimal while US confirmed cartilage thinning (mean 0.6 ± 0.1 mm) and subchondral sclerosis. Significant correlations were observed for BMI with KL severity (r=0.47; p<0.001), menopausal duration with rhizarthrosis (r=0.39; p<0.01), and occupational load with VAS pain (r=0.44; p<0.001). Disease frequency in garment/agriculture workers was ~2.4× higher than in teachers/office staff (p<0.01).