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Review Article
Online Published: 09 Oct 2026
 


Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Najim Zafer Alshahrani, Rawan Awdah Almarwani, Mohammed Abdulaziz Almarshud, Mohammed Nasser S. Alsharaif, Alhassan Mahdi H. Al Jumhur, Tareg Ali Alshamrani, Osama Jazzaa O. Alkhamali, Sultan Abdullah A. Alzahrani, Nemer Amer Alismail, Rayan Saad Alessawi, Bander Fahad M. Alamri.


Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a major cause of pain and functional limitation, particularly among older adults. In Saudi Arabia, prevalence estimates vary considerably across studies, and the overall burden remains unclear. This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of clinical or symptomatic KOA in Saudi Arabia and examine associated factors. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to August 2026 for observational studies conducted in Saudi Arabia that reported the prevalence of clinically or symptomatically defined KOA and/or its associated risk factors. Studies based exclusively on radiographic or MRI definitions were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies. Prevalence estimates were pooled using a random-effects model with restricted maximum likelihood estimation. Seven cross-sectional studies involving 11,562 participants were included. Prevalence estimates varied widely, ranging from 13.0% to 79.33%. The pooled prevalence of clinical/symptomatic KOA was 32% (95% CI, 18%–51%); among community-based studies, it was 30% (95% CI, 15%–52%). Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis produced estimates close to 32% after exclusion of most individual studies, but the estimate decreased to approximately 24% when Kandasamy et al. (2024) was excluded. Clinical/symptomatic KOA represented a substantial health burden among the Saudi populations studied, with a pooled prevalence of 32%. Older age, female sex, previous knee injury or trauma, and higher BMI were the most consistently associated factors. Prevention and early recognition should address modifiable risks, particularly excess body weight and preventable knee injury.

Key words: Knee osteoarthritis, prevalence, Saudi Arabia, risk factors, musculoskeletal, meta-analysis


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alshahrani NZ, Almarwani RA, Almarshud MA, Alsharaif MNS, Jumhur AMHA, Alshamrani TA, Alkhamali OJO, Alzahrani SAA, Alismail NA, Alessawi RS, Alamri BFM. Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC. Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401

Web Style

Alshahrani NZ, Almarwani RA, Almarshud MA, Alsharaif MNS, Jumhur AMHA, Alshamrani TA, Alkhamali OJO, Alzahrani SAA, Alismail NA, Alessawi RS, Alamri BFM. Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=334301 [Access: October 09, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alshahrani NZ, Almarwani RA, Almarshud MA, Alsharaif MNS, Jumhur AMHA, Alshamrani TA, Alkhamali OJO, Alzahrani SAA, Alismail NA, Alessawi RS, Alamri BFM. Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC. Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alshahrani NZ, Almarwani RA, Almarshud MA, Alsharaif MNS, Jumhur AMHA, Alshamrani TA, Alkhamali OJO, Alzahrani SAA, Alismail NA, Alessawi RS, Alamri BFM. Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC, [cited October 09, 2026]; Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401


Harvard Style

Alshahrani, N. Z., Almarwani, . R. A., Almarshud, . M. A., Alsharaif, . M. N. S., Jumhur, . A. M. H. A., Alshamrani, . T. A., Alkhamali, . O. J. O., Alzahrani, . S. A. A., Alismail, . N. A., Alessawi, . R. S. & Alamri, . B. F. M. (2026) Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC, Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401


Turabian Style

Alshahrani, Najim Zafer, Rawan Awdah Almarwani, Mohammed Abdulaziz Almarshud, Mohammed Nasser S. Alsharaif, Alhassan Mahdi H. Al Jumhur, Tareg Ali Alshamrani, Osama Jazzaa O. Alkhamali, Sultan Abdullah A. Alzahrani, Nemer Amer Alismail, Rayan Saad Alessawi, and Bander Fahad M. Alamri. 2026. Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401


Chicago Style

Alshahrani, Najim Zafer, Rawan Awdah Almarwani, Mohammed Abdulaziz Almarshud, Mohammed Nasser S. Alsharaif, Alhassan Mahdi H. Al Jumhur, Tareg Ali Alshamrani, Osama Jazzaa O. Alkhamali, Sultan Abdullah A. Alzahrani, Nemer Amer Alismail, Rayan Saad Alessawi, and Bander Fahad M. Alamri. "Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alshahrani, Najim Zafer, Rawan Awdah Almarwani, Mohammed Abdulaziz Almarshud, Mohammed Nasser S. Alsharaif, Alhassan Mahdi H. Al Jumhur, Tareg Ali Alshamrani, Osama Jazzaa O. Alkhamali, Sultan Abdullah A. Alzahrani, Nemer Amer Alismail, Rayan Saad Alessawi, and Bander Fahad M. Alamri. "Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. Web. 09 Oct 2026 doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alshahrani, N. Z., Almarwani, . R. A., Almarshud, . M. A., Alsharaif, . M. N. S., Jumhur, . A. M. H. A., Alshamrani, . T. A., Alkhamali, . O. J. O., Alzahrani, . S. A. A., Alismail, . N. A., Alessawi, . R. S. & Alamri, . B. F. M. (2026) Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and associated risk factors in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 09 Oct, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1789157401




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