Around 33 % (N = 200) of the respondents reported that a medical professional diagnosed them with OA. The most reported anatomical site to have OA was the knee with 50 % of those diagnosed with OA reporting it in one or in both of their knee joints. The distribution of OA by anatomical site is presented in Fig. 1. The prevalence of symptoms of CMD ranged from 22 % for distress to 27 % for anxiety/depression. In the group of former elite athletes with OA, this range was from 29 to 34 % for distress and adverse alcohol use, respectively. In the group of former elite athletes without OA this ranged from 19 to 25 % for distress and anxiety/depression, respectively (Fig. 2).Fig. 1Distribution of osteoarthritis (OA) by anatomical site Fig. 2Prevalence of symptoms of common mental disorders among former elite athletes with and without OA