Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p> <jats:italic>Aim:</jats:italic> To determine the prevalence of hip pain (HP) in adolescents in East Germany and to evaluate the potential factors associated with HP. <jats:italic>Design:</jats:italic> Cross‐sectional epidemiological study of a total of 2368 pupils (1137 males, 1231 females; age 14.5±0.65, range 13–18 y). Demographic data and information on sports activity and consumption of soft legal drugs were obtained using a questionnaire. Physical examination was carried out by school doctors. Odds ratio (OR [95% confidence interval]) was calculated for common factors associated with HP. <jats:italic>Results:</jats:italic> The prevalence of adolescents suffering from HP was 6.5% (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic>=151). Pain episodes were reported as occasional in 3.0%. A total of 69 subjects (2.9%) suffered from permanent pain during physical activity. Permanent pain when at rest was reported in 0.5% (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic>=12). Female subjects, students attending high school, smoking adolescents and adolescents with a consumption of alcoholic beverages had a significantly higher prevalence of HP. HP was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of low back pain and knee pain. The prevalence of pathological findings of the hip was 2.5% (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic>=60). Factors significantly associated with HP were: female gender (1.9‐fold), attending high school (2.1‐fold) and consumption of tobacco (1.6‐fold).</jats:p><jats:p> <jats:bold>Conclusions:</jats:bold> HP in adolescents seems to be mostly caused by functional disorders. There is a possible association between HP and psychological stress or consumption of legal drugs. Prophylactic measures are necessary in this age group in future.</jats:p>