Prevalence and Correlates of Foot Pain in the North West Adelaide Health Study
Author Information
Author(s): Catherine L. Hill, Tiffany K. Gill, Hylton B. Menz, Anne W. Taylor
Primary Institution: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of foot pain in a population-based sample of people aged 18 years and over living in the northwest region of Adelaide, South Australia?
Conclusion
Foot pain affects nearly one in five people in the community and is associated with increased age, female sex, obesity, and pain in other body regions.
Supporting Evidence
- 17.4% of participants reported foot pain, aching, or stiffness.
- Females were 40% more likely to report foot pain than males.
- Foot pain was significantly associated with knee, hip, and back pain.
Takeaway
Many people have foot pain, especially older women and those who are overweight, and it can make them feel worse overall.
Methodology
The study used a representative longitudinal cohort design with participants recruited via telephone interviews and assessed for foot pain and other health-related factors.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data and the inability to clinically assess foot conditions.
Limitations
Foot pain was assessed using a single question rather than foot-specific questionnaires, and no clinical assessments of foot conditions were conducted.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 18 years and over, with a balanced representation of males and females, and included a range of ages and body mass indices.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 16.2 – 18.8
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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