Osteoarthritis risk factors

Identify risk factors associated with osteoarthritis (OA). 

Osteoarthritis is not a single disease entity because the different locations are exposed to different risk factors. Outcomes of OA vary among patients but are also variable in each individual patient. This depends on the joints involved, duration of disease, and the frequency the active inflammatory process is switched on and off. 

Osteoarthritis proves to be a more complex disease than autoimmune disease, with multiple variable manifestations like knee, hip, hand, DIP, elbow, shoulder, and spinal joints OA, which have different risk factors. The etiology of OA is multifactorial with inflammatory, metabolic and mechanical causes. A number of personal and environmental risk factors, such as obesity, occupation, and trauma, may initiate various pathological pathways. OA comprises degeneration of articular cartilage together with changes in subchondral bone of the joint margins and mild intraarticular inflammation. 

Felson DT. Risk factors for osteoarthritis understanding joint vulnerability. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004 427 (suppl) S16-S21. 

What risk factors may predispose patients to getting osteoarthritis and which risk factors does Mrs KR have ... 

Risk factors include age, obesity, gender (under 45 years osteoarthritis is more common in males, over 55 years it is more common in females), systemic disorders, environmental factors, such as jobs which involve abnormal joint loading, and a genetic predisposition. The patient s ethnic group may also be a factor as more hip osteoarthritis is seen in white Europeans than black or Asian populations. 

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the United States. This disease affects men and women equally, but symptoms occur earlier and are more severe in women. Risk factors associated with the development of OA include age greater than 50 years, obesity (weight-bearing joints), injury to joints, joint overuse due to prolonged occupational or sports stress, and family history. 

M.C. Corti, C. Rigon, Epidemiology of osteoarthritis prevalence, risk factors and functional impact. Aging Chn. Exp. Res. 15 (2003) 359-363. 

Louboutin H, Debarge R, Richou J, Selmi TA, Elonell ST, Neyret P, Dubrana F (2009) Osteoarthritis in patients with anterior cruciate ligament rupture a review of risk factors. Knee 16 239-244... 

Lanas A, Goldstein JL, Chan FK, Wilcox CM, Peura DA, Li C, et al. Risk factors associated with a decrease >/=2g/dL in haemoglobin and/ or >/=10% haematocrit in osteoarthritis patients taking celecoxib or a nonselective NSAID plus a PPI in a large randomised controlled trial (CONDOR). Aliment Pharmacol Ther September 2012 36(5) 485-92. 

Today, the dietary "culprit" is fat. An estimated 35 million Americans are considered to be obese. Obesity is connected with a higher incidence of diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, and some types of cancer. Additionally, high blood lipid levels are a major risk factor for heart disease. So, convenience and fast-food menus currently reflect consumer concern about the amount and type of dietary fat they are eating. For example, McDonald s "McLean Deluxe" is a low-fat ground beef patty that is 91% fat free, and contains only 310 calories and 1 0 grams of fat. 

Osteoarthritis is associated with muscle weakness. In fact, muscle weakness has been said to be a better predictor of OA than either joint space narrowing or pain [4 5]. However, it is not clear if muscle weakness is a condition arising after the onset of OA, or if muscle weakness is an independent risk factor for the onset and progression of OA [6]. 

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