Anyone can get OA although the disease is uncommon in people under the age of 40. Some of the main risk factors for OA include:

• Older age: OA becomes much more common as people age.
• Female sex: OA is more common in women, although under the age of 45 it is actually more common in men.
• Overweight/obesity: Carrying excess weight increases stress on the back and legs. There is some evidence suggesting that OA in the hands is also more common in obese people.
• Physical job stress: OA is more common in people whose jobs place a lot of stress on their joints.
• Joint deformities: People born with malformed joints or defective cartilage are at increased risk of OA.
• Joint injuries: OA is more common in people who have had joint injuries from sports or an accident.
• Other diseases: Certain bone and joint diseases may increase the risk of OA such as gout and Paget’s disease.
• Heredity: People with relatives who have OA may be at increased risk of the disease.