Consequently, the primary aim of this study was to explore the association between OA and the occurrence and comorbidity of symptoms of CMD (distress, anxiety/depression, sleep disturbance, adverse alcohol use) among former elite athletes from rugby, football, ice hockey, cricket and Gaelic sports (football and hurling). The hypothesis was that former elite athletes suffering from OA were more likely to report symptoms of CMD than former elite athletes without OA. The secondary aim was to explore whether this association differed between the various subgroups of sports.