Kelli D Allen1, Yvonne M Golightly. 1. aThurston Arthritis Research Center bDepartment of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill cDepartment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham dDepartment of Epidemiology eInjury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on recent studies of osteoarthritis epidemiology, including research on prevalence, incidence, and a broad array of potential risk factors at the person level and joint level. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies continue to illustrate the high impact of osteoarthritis worldwide, with increasing incidence. Person-level risk factors with strong evidence regarding osteoarthritis incidence and/or progression include age, sex, socioeconomic status, family history, and obesity. Joint-level risk factors with strong evidence for incident osteoarthritis risk include injury and occupational joint loading; the associations of injury and joint alignment with osteoarthritis progression are compelling. Moderate levels of physical activity have not been linked to increased osteoarthritis risk. Some topics of high recent interest or emerging evidence for association with osteoarthritis include metabolic pathways, vitamins, joint shape, bone density, limb length inequality, muscle strength and mass, and early structural damage. SUMMARY: Osteoarthritis is a complex, multifactorial disease, and there is still much to learn regarding mechanisms underlying incidence and progression. However, there are several known modifiable and preventable risk factors, including obesity and joint injury; efforts to mitigate these risks can help to lessen the impact of osteoarthritis.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on recent studies of osteoarthritis epidemiology, including research on prevalence, incidence, and a broad array of potential risk factors at the person level and joint level. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies continue to illustrate the high impact of osteoarthritis worldwide, with increasing incidence. Person-level risk factors with strong evidence regarding osteoarthritis incidence and/or progression include age, sex, socioeconomic status, family history, and obesity. Joint-level risk factors with strong evidence for incident osteoarthritis risk include injury and occupational joint loading; the associations of injury and joint alignment with osteoarthritis progression are compelling. Moderate levels of physical activity have not been linked to increased osteoarthritis risk. Some topics of high recent interest or emerging evidence for association with osteoarthritis include metabolic pathways, vitamins, joint shape, bone density, limb length inequality, muscle strength and mass, and early structural damage. SUMMARY:Osteoarthritis is a complex, multifactorial disease, and there is still much to learn regarding mechanisms underlying incidence and progression. However, there are several known modifiable and preventable risk factors, including obesity and joint injury; efforts to mitigate these risks can help to lessen the impact of osteoarthritis.
Authors: Marita Cross; Emma Smith; Damian Hoy; Sandra Nolte; Ilana Ackerman; Marlene Fransen; Lisa Bridgett; Sean Williams; Francis Guillemin; Catherine L Hill; Laura L Laslett; Graeme Jones; Flavia Cicuttini; Richard Osborne; Theo Vos; Rachelle Buchbinder; Anthony Woolf; Lyn March Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2014-02-19 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: A W Visser; R de Mutsert; M Loef; S le Cessie; M den Heijer; J L Bloem; M Reijnierse; F R Rosendaal; M Kloppenburg Journal: Osteoarthritis Cartilage Date: 2013-12-12 Impact factor: 6.576
Authors: A S Ruhdorfer; T Dannhauer; W Wirth; S Cotofana; F Roemer; M Nevitt; F Eckstein Journal: Osteoarthritis Cartilage Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 6.576
Authors: M A Clynes; C Parsons; M H Edwards; K A Jameson; N C Harvey; A Aihie Sayer; C Cooper; E M Dennison Journal: J Dev Orig Health Dis Date: 2014-08-26 Impact factor: 2.401
Authors: S A Hardcastle; P Dieppe; C L Gregson; D Hunter; G E R Thomas; N K Arden; T D Spector; D J Hart; M J Laugharne; G A Clague; M H Edwards; E M Dennison; C Cooper; M Williams; G Davey Smith; J H Tobias Journal: Osteoarthritis Cartilage Date: 2014-06-24 Impact factor: 6.576
Authors: Kamil E Barbour; Naoko Sagawa; Robert M Boudreau; Mary E Winger; Jane A Cauley; Michael C Nevitt; Tomoko Fujii; Kushang V Patel; Elsa S Strotmeyer Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2019-06-13 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: Heath P Melugin; Rena F Hale; Jun Zhou; Matthew LaPrade; Christopher Bernard; Devin Leland; Bruce A Levy; Aaron J Krych Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2020-08-21 Impact factor: 6.202