The Association of Stair Climbing Behaviors With Hazard of All-Cause Mortality in Adults With or At Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Adults with or at high risk for knee OA who report difficulty with climbing stairs or who infrequently use stairs are at greater hazard of all-cause mortality. Stair climbing difficulty and frequency are simple to collect and changes may occur early in OA progression, allowing for early intervention. Brief questions about stair climbing behaviors can serve as a functional vital sign within the clinician's toolbox.