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 epidemiological questions surrounding the foot remain poorly explored. The prevalence of foot pain has proved difficult to compare across existing studies due to variations in case definitions. The objective of this study was to use original data to explore differences in case definitions and create a single harmonised definition to investigate the prevalence of foot pain in a number of international population-based cohorts.

Methods: foot pain variables were examined in five cohorts (the Chingford 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 foot pain question was chosen from each cohort based on its similarity to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 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 within the cohort that used a case definition specific to pain, compared to the four remaining cohorts that included components of pain, aching or stiffness. Foot pain was generally more prevalent in women, the obese and generally increased with age, being much lower in younger participants (20-44 years).

Conclusion: foot pain is common and is associated with female sex, older age and obesity. The prevalence of foot pain is likely affected by the case definition used, therefore consideration must be given for future population studies to use consistent measures of data collection.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Lucy Gates: orcid.org/0000-0002-8627-3418

ORCID for Catherine Bowen: orcid.org/0000-0002-7252-9515

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