METABOLIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED TO RADIOGRAPHIC KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH KNEE PAIN

Background: Metabolic factors have been shown to be associated to radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) [1]. More knowledge about associations between metabolic factors and early clinical knee OA is needed. Objectives: The aim was to study associations between metabolic factors and radiographic knee OA in individuals with knee pain Methods: In total 272 individuals with radiographs at baseline, from an ongoing longitudinal study of knee pain (without cruciate ligament injury), were included in the present cross-sectional study. At baseline BMI, waist circumference (WC) and visceral fat area (VFA) were assessed. Fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL-and LDL-cholesterol were analysed. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was present if central obesity (WC ≥94 cm in men and ≥80cm in women) plus any two of the following factors: raised blood pressure (systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mm Hg or treatment of hypertension), raised triglycerides (≥ 1.7 mmol/L or specific treatment), reduced HDL-cholesterol (men The individuals were divided in two groups according to Ahlback [2], one group, who had grade I or more in at least one knee (radiographic knee OA, ROA) n=62 and the other group, not fulfilling Ahlback criteria (no radiograhic knee OA, No OA) n=211. The associations between metabolic factors and knee OA were calculated by crude logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age and sex. Results: The group with radiographic knee OA were older, had higher BMI, higher amount of visceral fat and more had central obesity, table 1. Ninety- four percent of the group with ROA had central obesity compared to 76%, p=0.002 in the no OA group. There was no difference between the groups regarding MetS, 44% in the ROA group vs. 39%, p=0.5. The group with ROA had increased cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. There were no differences in fasting glucose between the groups, though both groups had a mean glucose value in the upper range of normal value, table 1. Factors associated to having radiographic knee OA were age (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06-1.17), BMI (1.07, 1.003-1.13), central obesity (3.91, 1.32-11.61) and raised triglycerides (2.35, 1.03-5.38). Conclusion: There were associations between some metabolic factors and radiographic knee OA in individuals with knee pain. Fasting glucose was increased in both groups. The associations between metabolic risk factors and the development of knee OA needs to be assessed in longitudinal studies. References: [1]Sellam J, Bone Spine 2013;80:568-73. [2]Ahlback S,. Acta Radiol Diagn (Stockh) 1968Suppl 277:7-72. Disclosure of Interests: None declared