INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis of the hip is a degenerative disease of hip unknown origin, with pain, stiffness and diminished joint function. AIM: determine the influence of the load of the hip joint during professional activity and BMI as risk factors for the hip osteoarthritis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analysed 148 patients. Patients were divided into two groups ( I group with osteoarthritis of the hip, II group without osteoarthritis of the hip). In all, performed diagnostic procedure: anamnesis, physical examination (estimate of walking and hip joint movement), laboratory blood test and urine test radiological examination and taking data on the height and weight to calculated BMI. We assessed the data that is related to the load of the hip joint during professional activities (mostly sitting work and mostly standing job with carrying load). Statistical analysis was done using the software package SPSS 14.0, Microsoft Office Word 2003. RESULTS: In the first group, average age was 67.76 years, with females prevailing (67.6%). In this group the larger body mass was noted (81.82 ± 12.18), with statistically significant difference (T-test 2.923, p<0.01); the average BMI was higher the average BMI was higher (30.18 ± 4.6), with statistically significant difference (T-test 3.832, p<0.01). This group had more overweight patients (87.7%),with statistically significant difference (Fisher test, p<0.01). In I group 62,2% of patients were doing hard physical work (standing job with repeated carrying load) and we found statistically significant difference between groups (Fisher test p<0,01). CONCLUSION: Patients with osteoarthritis of the hip had a higher body weight, higher BMI. Also we found the influence of hard physical labor at work, and they were performed mostly standing job with carrying load.
