Prevalence of osteoarthritis disorders in Iranian chemical injured patients: A cross-sectional study using the COPCORD approaches
Authors:   Exercise Physiology Research Center, Lifestyle Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Shakibaee Abolfazl , Shahriary Alireza ,   Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Bayat Noushin ,   Exercise Physiology Research Center, Lifestyle Institute, Department of Rheumatology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Shadmanfar Soraya ,   Exercise Physiology Research Center, Lifestyle Institute, Department of Rheumatology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Ebrahimpour Zeynab ,   Department of Physical education, Tehran Shomal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, Harsij Eshagh ,   Student research committee, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Farhadi Ahmad ,   Student research committee, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Jamshidi Ahmad Reza ,   Rheumatology Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran  University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Salesi Mahmood ,   Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Hosseini Zijoud Seyed Reza ,   Clinical Research Development Unit, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Alishiri Gholam Hossein ,   Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Department of Rheumatology, Baqiyatallah Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is considered as the most common joint disease. Sulfur mustard (SM) is a toxic compound, which was applied as a chemical warfare agent by Iraq against Iran veterans during 1980-1988. Chemical veterans suffer from chronic implications caused by sulfur mustard that not only adversely affect their quality of life, but also restrict their working abilities and their participation in social activities. This study aims to consider the prevalence of osteoarthritis disorders among Iranian SM-exposed veterans. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 248 Iranian SM exposed patients were evaluated from 2013 to 2014. Veterans filled a special questionnaire for COPCORD studies and then general and specific rheumatology examinations were applied under the supervision of internists and rheumatologists. The obtained data from 245 filled questionnaires were analyzed by SPSS software and the results were reported as a percentage or mean ±SD. Results: Bone and joint pain (72%), knee joint pain (52.5%), Joint stiffness (49.2%), and shoulder joint pain (45.8%) were the most common type of complications in these patients. Osteoarthritis in at least one joint was the most common type of osteoarthritis in veterans. 69.5% of veterans had osteoarthritis in at least one joint. Knee osteoarthritis was the secondmost common type of osteoarthritis, which has been found in 58.4% of all veterans. The prevalence of neck osteoarthritis in all veterans was 23.9%. Conclusion: The total prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among Iranian veterans was significantly higher than the average of society.