Most patients with chronic knee and hip osteoarthritis have stable symptoms over time, according to a systematic review looking at typical patient disease trajectories.

Studies have shown that the individual course of osteoarthritis varies widely, so researchers from the Université de Lorraine in Nancy, France, employed ‘trajectory analysis’ to discern the predictors of various patterns of disease progression. 

Analysing data from 44 studies, the authors found high variability in outcomes for osteoarthritis, particularly for patients with early symptomatic disease or those at high risk of the disease.  

Patients were aged 18 or older and follow-up ranged from 12 weeks to eight years.