OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of joint laxity and hypermobility in adults at Industrial area of Karachi. STUDY DESIGN: An observational survey. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Department of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi, from September to December 2008. METHODOLOGY: Adults between the ages of 14-60 years presenting in the consultant OPD for different medical conditions were included and examined for joint laxity and hypermobility according to Beighton's score. A structured proforma was designed to record all information. Chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance between two categorical variables. P-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Out of 1000 adults, 717 (71.7%) were males and 283 (28.3%) were females. Seventy (7%) adults had joint hypermobility including 48 (68.57%) males and 22 (31.43%) females. A total of 54 (77.1%) patients were found to have joint laxity; this included 75.9% males and 24.1% females, while 16 (22.9%) cases were having joint hypermobility including 43.7% males and 52.3% females. The Beighton score found higher in females than in males (p < 0.04). Family history of joint hypermobility was positive in 28 (40%) of the affected individuals. Individuals aged younger than 26 years scored higher than those aged above. CONCLUSION: Joint laxity and hypermobility was not an uncommon rheumatological entity in the study group. It was significantly greater in females in terms of Beighton's score.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of joint laxity and hypermobility in adults at Industrial area of Karachi. STUDY DESIGN: An observational survey. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Department of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi, from September to December 2008. METHODOLOGY: Adults between the ages of 14-60 years presenting in the consultant OPD for different medical conditions were included and examined for joint laxity and hypermobility according to Beighton's score. A structured proforma was designed to record all information. Chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance between two categorical variables. P-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Out of 1000 adults, 717 (71.7%) were males and 283 (28.3%) were females. Seventy (7%) adults had joint hypermobility including 48 (68.57%) males and 22 (31.43%) females. A total of 54 (77.1%) patients were found to have joint laxity; this included 75.9% males and 24.1% females, while 16 (22.9%) cases were having joint hypermobility including 43.7% males and 52.3% females. The Beighton score found higher in females than in males (p < 0.04). Family history of joint hypermobility was positive in 28 (40%) of the affected individuals. Individuals aged younger than 26 years scored higher than those aged above. CONCLUSION:Joint laxity and hypermobility was not an uncommon rheumatological entity in the study group. It was significantly greater in females in terms of Beighton's score.