Which form of arthritis is most common?

• A. Rheumatoid arthritis
• B. Gout
• C. Psoriatic arthritis
• D. Osteoarthritis

Answer: (D)

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, especially as people age. It’s a degenerative, wear-and-tear condition that affects joints frequently used in movement—knees, hips, spine, and often the hands. Because it stems from cumulative joint stress and aging rather than a systemic inflammatory process, it occurs more widely in the population than the other types. The typical picture includes joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest, mild to moderate morning stiffness, and possible crepitus. X-rays often show joint space narrowing, osteophyte formation, and subchondral sclerosis. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune with more prominent morning stiffness and symmetric small-joint involvement; gout involves episodic attacks from uric acid crystals, commonly affecting the big toe; psoriatic arthritis is linked with psoriasis and can involve dactylitis and enthesitis. But among these options, osteoarthritis is the most prevalent.