Prevalence of knee pain differs across ecological landscapes of the Western Development Region of Nepal

Objectives To estimate knee and chronic knee pain prevalence in the adult population of one region of Nepal and compare rates across plain, hilly and mountainous landscapes. Methods A cross-sectional multistage cluster survey was undertaken in seven sites across the Western Development Region of Nepal. Regional and zonal weighted 12-month prevalence rates of knee and chronic knee pain were estimated. Logistic regression was used to investigate if ecological landscape was an independent risk factor for knee pain and/or chronic knee pain. Results The weighted 12-month prevalence of knee pain was 21.5% (95% CI 18.3% to 23.9%) in the 694 recruited participants, about half had chronic knee pain (10.9%, 95% CI 7.3% to 12.4%). Conclusions Living in a mountainous landscape was an independent risk factor for both knee and chronic knee pain.