OBJECTIVES: Using sickness fund claims data, we sought to determine osteoarthritis rate, drug compound class, pain therapy prevalence and type of medical specialists providing treatment. METHODS: A group of company health-sickness funds (approx. 2.1 million insured patients in 2010; 2.5 million  insured patients in 2011) was used. Osteoarthritis was identified based on ICD-10 diagnoses  (M16.0-9, M17.0-5, M17.9, M19.05, M19.25, M19.85, M19.95), then linked to prescriptions using the ATC codes: M01A (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDS), N02B (analgesics  and antipyretics), and N02A (opioids). Furthermore, we determined  which groups of medical specialists prescribed the drugs. RESULTS: Osteoarthritis was diagnosed in 7.8% (in 2010) and in 7.1% (in 2011) of patients. In one year, 65.4% of patients received a prescription for at least one drug from the analysed ATC codes: 81.4% of patients received at least one NSAID, 36.4% an analgesic and antipyretic, and 27.4% an opioid. For M01A, diclofenac (54%) was most frequently prescribed; the proportion of coxibs was 6%. For N02B, 99% of prescriptions were for metamizol; 1% for paracetamol. For N02A, most prescriptions were for tramadol (29%) or tilidin (28%). General practitioners most frequently prescribed these drugs (42.2% [M01A]/46.2% [N02B]/45.9% [N02A]). CONCLUSIONS: In Germany in 2010-2011, OA prevalence was 7-8%, and associated with analgesic prescriptions for the majority of evaluated patients. Diclofenac (NSAIDs, metamizol (analgesics and antipyretics), and tramadol or tilidin (opioids) were most frequently prescribed in each group. General practitioners were the most frequent painkiller prescribers.