Association between Knee Osteoarthritis, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and the Framingham Risk Score in South Koreans: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundOsteoarthritis is a significant burden on personal health and for social cost, and its prevalence is rising. Recent research has revealed an association between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease, and this study uses the Framingham risk score (FRS), which is widely used as a composite index of cardiovascular risk factors, to investigate the association between osteoarthritis and various cardiovascular risk factors.MethodsA total 9,514 participants aged 50 years or older who received knee X-ray diagnosis of the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (total surveyees = 24,173) released by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was included for analysis. Knee osteoarthritis patients were defined as participants with K-L grade ≥2 on knee X-ray regardless of knee pain. The association between major cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and smoking habits), FRS, and knee osteoarthritis was analyzed, adjusting for various covariates.ResultsPrevalence of knee osteoarthritis in Koreans aged ≥50 years was 36.6%, and higher in women (men: 24.9%, women: 45.4%). Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in participants with hypertension was significantly higher than those without hypertension (fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.48). Knee osteoarthritis prevalence was also higher in participants with impaired fasting glucose or diabetes than those without (age, sex adjusted OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.00–1.41). Also, OR values increased statistically significantly with FRS as a continuous variable (fully adjusted OR 1.007; 95% CI 1.00–1.01).ConclusionsPrevalence of knee osteoarthritis was associated with hypertension and diabetes, which are major cardiovascular risk factors, and the FRS. Further studies on FRS pertaining to its relationship with osteoarthritis are warranted.

Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Radiographic Hand Osteoarthritis: Data From a Community‐Based Longitudinal Cohort Study

“…We found a trend toward an association between hypertension and hand OA. Previous studies have shown conflicting results . Consistent with our results, significant associations between hypertension and knee OA prevalence, incidence, and progression have been found independent of BMI .…”

“…Previous studies have shown conflicting results . Consistent with our results, significant associations between hypertension and knee OA prevalence, incidence, and progression have been found independent of BMI . No associations were found between hypertension and hand OA in previous studies, which were hampered by constricted age groups (70‐year‐old participants) and small sample sizes (n = 70 participants with hand OA) , respectively.…”

Causal Factors for Knee, Hip, and Hand Osteoarthritis: A Mendelian Randomization Study in the UK Biobank

“…Previous limited observational studies have evaluated the association between hypertension, defined as a combination of antihypertensive medication use and high BP, and OA. Hypertension was associated with increased risk of radiographic knee OA both in a prospective analysis in the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study and in a large cross‐sectional South Korean study . However, after adjustment for BMI, hypertension was not significantly associated with incident OA in the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study.…”

Cost of Illness Analysis of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…With respect to the cost of co-morbidity, majority of our study population found with two common co-morbidities i.e., hypertension and diabetes mellitus (49 patients with diabetes mellitus and 39 patients with hypertension). 17 The average cost spent for treating co-morbidities was INR 378. When analysing the hospitalization cost, our study has found that 69% of patients were outpatients so the average hospitalization cost was found to be less i.e., INR 500.…”