Which statement best differentiates osteoarthritis from rheumatoid arthritis?

Which statement best differentiates osteoarthritis from rheumatoid arthritis?

• A. Symmetric Joint Involvement
• B. Morning Stiffness Lasting More Than 30 Minutes
• C. Obesity
• D. Morning Stiffness Lasting Less Than 30 Minutes

Answer: (D)

Morning stiffness duration is the key idea here. Osteoarthritis tends to cause brief, mechanical stiffness that resolves quickly, usually under 30 minutes. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition, and stiffness in RA typically lasts longer than 30 minutes, often for hours. So a statement describing morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes aligns with osteoarthritis and serves as the best distinction from rheumatoid arthritis. Other options are less reliable: symmetric joint involvement can occur in RA but isn’t exclusive and OA can be symmetric in some cases; obesity can be a risk factor for OA but isn’t a clear differentiator; morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes would point toward RA rather than OA, not differentiate OA from RA.

Morning stiffness duration is the key idea here. Osteoarthritis tends to cause brief, mechanical stiffness that resolves quickly, usually under 30 minutes. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition, and stiffness in RA typically lasts longer than 30 minutes, often for hours. So a statement describing morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes aligns with osteoarthritis and serves as the best distinction from rheumatoid arthritis.

Other options are less reliable: symmetric joint involvement can occur in RA but isn’t exclusive and OA can be symmetric in some cases; obesity can be a risk factor for OA but isn’t a clear differentiator; morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes would point toward RA rather than OA, not differentiate OA from RA.