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ObjectiveTo determine the optimal combination of imaging and biochemical biomarkers for use in the prediction of knee osteoarthritis (OA) progression.MethodsThe present study was a nested case-control trial from the Foundation of the National Institutes of Health OA Biomarkers Consortium that assessed study participants with a Kellgren/Lawrence grade of 1-3 who had complete biomarker data available (n = 539 to 550). Cases were participants' knees that had radiographic and pain progression between 24 and 48 months compared to baseline. Radiographic progression only was assessed in secondary analyses. Biomarkers (baseline and 24-month changes) that had a P value of

BackgroundTo date, there have not been any epidemiologic studies that have evaluated the association between swimming over a lifetime and knee health.ObjectiveThe study aimed to evaluate the relationship of a history of swimming with knee pain, radiographic knee OA (ROA), and symptomatic knee OA (SOA).DesignCross-sectional retrospective study.SettingFour academic centers in the United States.ParticipantsRespondents to the historical physical activity survey within the Osteoarthritis Initiative with knee radiographs and symptom assessments.MethodsIn this retrospective study nested within the Osteoarthritis Initiative, researchers performed logistic regression with the predictor being swimming over a lifetime and over particular age ranges.Main outcome measurementsPerson-based definitions of frequent knee pain, ROA, and SOA.ResultsA total of 2637 participants were included, with a mean age of 64.3 years (SD 8.9), body mass index of 28.4 kg/m2 (SD 4.9), and 44.2% male. Over a lifetime, the adjusted prevalence measures for frequent knee pain, ROA, and SOA for any versus no history of swimming were 36.4% (33.4% - 39.5%) v. 39.9% (37.4% - 42.5%), 54.3% (51.0% - 57.6%) v. 61.1% (58.4% - 63.7%), and 21.9% (19.4% - 24.7%) v. 27.0% (24.7% - 29.4%) respectively.ConclusionsThis is the first epidemiologic study to indicate that swimming is potentially beneficial toward knee health, particularly when performed earlier in life (before age 35). Future prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to better scrutinize the associations in older age groups.

IntroductionMale youth in the United States commonly participate in gridiron (American) football. There are little data substantiating current popular opinion that it is associated with knee pain or osteoarthritis (OA) later in life. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of football with these outcomes in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI).MethodsThis is a study of male OAI participants with knee x-ray readings, symptom assessments, and completed surveys on lifetime physical activity. The OAI is a multicenter, observational cohort recruited from the community not based on football participation status. A history of exposure to American football was ascertained via self-report. Knee radiographs were scored for Kellgren-Lawrence grade (0-4). Radiographic OA (ROA) was defined as Kellgren-Lawrence ≥ 2 in at least one knee. Frequent knee pain meant at least one knee with frequent knee pain. Symptomatic ROA required at least one knee with both ROA and frequent knee pain.ResultsA total of 1166 men had a mean age of 63.7 (SD, 9.2) yr and body mass index of 28.6 (SD, 4.2) kg·m. Thirty-one percent (365/1166) played football at some point in their lives, 95% of whom participated from ages 12 to 18 yr. The ORs for symptomatic ROA from the lowest to highest football participation were 1.2, 1.5, and 2.2, respectively (P for trend = 0.004). Findings were similar for football from ages 12 to 18 yr and for outcomes of knee pain and ROA.ConclusionThis is the first large epidemiologic study to suggest that football participation, including in the teen years, may be detrimental toward knee health. Prospective studies evaluating football players are warranted.

ObjectiveTo develop an evidence-based guideline for the comprehensive management of osteoarthritis (OA) as a collaboration between the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Arthritis Foundation, updating the 2012 ACR recommendations for the management of hand, hip, and knee OA.MethodsWe identified clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, outcomes questions and critical outcomes in OA. A Literature Review Team performed a systematic literature review to summarize evidence supporting the benefits and harms of available educational, behavioral, psychosocial, physical, mind-body, and pharmacologic therapies for OA. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was used to rate the quality of the evidence. A Voting Panel, including rheumatologists, an internist, physical and occupational therapists, and patients, achieved consensus on the recommendations.ResultsBased on the available evidence, either strong or conditional recommendations were made for or against the approaches evaluated. Strong recommendations were made for exercise, weight loss in patients with knee and/or hip OA who are overweight or obese, self-efficacy and self-management programs, tai chi, cane use, hand orthoses for first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint OA, tibiofemoral bracing for tibiofemoral knee OA, topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for knee OA, oral NSAIDs, and intraarticular glucocorticoid injections for knee OA. Conditional recommendations were made for balance exercises, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, kinesiotaping for first CMC OA, orthoses for hand joints other than the first CMC joint, patellofemoral bracing for patellofemoral knee OA, acupuncture, thermal modalities, radiofrequency ablation for knee OA, topical NSAIDs, intraarticular steroid injections and chondroitin sulfate for hand OA, topical capsaicin for knee OA, acetaminophen, duloxetine, and tramadol.ConclusionThis guideline provides direction for clinicians and patients making treatment decisions for the management of OA. Clinicians and patients should engage in shared decision-making that accounts for patients' values, preferences, and comorbidities. These recommendations should not be used to limit or deny access to therapies.

INTRODUCTION:Physical activity guidelines recommend minimum thresholds. This study sought to identify evidence-based thresholds to maintain disability-free status over 4years among adults with lower extremity joint symptoms. METHODS:Prospective multisite Osteoarthritis Initiative accelerometer monitoring cohort data from September 2008 through December 2014 were analyzed. Adults (n=1,564) aged ≥49years at elevated disability risk because of lower extremity joint symptoms were analyzed for biennial assessments of disability-free status from gait speed ≥1meter/second (mobility disability-free) and self-report of no limitations in activities of daily living (activities of daily living disability-free). Classification tree analyses conducted in 2017-2018 identified optimal thresholds across candidate activity intensities (sedentary, light, moderate-vigorous, total light and moderate-vigorous activity, and moderate-vigorous accrued in bouts lasting ≥10 minutes). RESULTS:Minimal thresholds of 56 and 55 moderate-vigorous minutes/week best predicted disability-free status over 4years from mobility and activities of daily living disabilities, respectively, across the candidate measures. Thresholds were consistent across sex, BMI, age, and knee osteoarthritis presence. Mobility disability onset was one eighth as frequent (3% vs 24%, RR=0.14, 95% CI=0.09, 0.20) and activities of daily living disability onset was almost half (12% vs 23%, RR=0.55, 95% CI=0.44, 0.70) among people above versus below the minimum threshold. CONCLUSIONS:Attaining an evidence-based threshold of approximately 1-hour moderate-vigorous activity/week significantly increased the likelihood of maintaining disability-free status over 4years. This minimum threshold tied to maintaining independent living abilities has value as an intermediate goal to motivate adults to take action towards the many health benefits of a physically active lifestyle.

ObjectiveValidation of a symptom measure for early knee OA may help identify new treatments and modifiable risk factors. Symptom measures that consider pain in the context of activity level may provide better discrimination than pain alone. Therefore, we aimed to compare sensitivity to change for radiographic progression between Ambulation Adjusted Score for Knee pain (AASK), which accounts for self-reported ambulation, and Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) knee pain score.DesignParticipants were assessed annually up to 48 months using WOMAC, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) ambulation, and knee radiographs. AASK was defined as ((WOMAC pain) + 1)/((average daily hours of walking) + 1). Radiographs were scored for Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade. Linear regression, stratified by OA status, evaluated relationships between changes in AASK and WOMAC pain and KL grade over time.ResultsFor 4191 people (8030 knees), the mean age was 61.2 (+ 9.2) years old and BMI was 28.6 (+ 4.8) kg/m2; 58% female. Over 40% of knees had WOMAC pain scores of 0; by design, no knees had AASK scores of 0. Annual changes in AASK were more sensitive to changes in KL than changes in WOMAC in those without baseline OA (0.20 and 0.16 change per unit KL change, p = 0.005 and 0.070 respectively), but performed similarly in knees with OA.ConclusionAASK is simple to assess using existing validated questionnaires. AASK performs well in individuals with and without OA and should be considered in clinical trials and observational studies of early knee OA.

OBJECTIVE:Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease with a substantial public health burden. Quantitative assessments of periarticular bone may be a biomarker capable of monitoring early disease progression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether measures of periarticular bone associate with longitudinal structural progression. METHODS:We conducted a 12-18 months longitudinal study using the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). Participants received knee dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), trabecular magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and x-rays. Knee DXAs generated proximal tibial medial:lateral periarticular bone mineral density (paBMD) measures. Proximal tibial trabecular MR images were assessed for trabecular morphometry: apparent bone volume fraction (BVF), trabecular number, thickness, and spacing. Weight-bearing x-rays were assessed for medial tibiofemoral joint space narrowing (JSN). Chi-squared analyses assessed whether periarticular bone measures were predictive of worsening medial tibiofemoral JSN, adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. RESULTS:In all, 444 participants, mean age 64.2 ± 9.2 years, BMI 29.5 ± 4.6kg/m2, and 52% male at baseline. Medial JSN (radiographic progression) occurred in 40 participants (9%). Higher baseline medial:lateral paBMD, apparent BVF, trabecular number and thickness, and lower baseline and decreased trabecular spacing were all associated with more progression of JSN in the medial compartment. From lowest to highest baseline medial:lateral paBMD quartile groups, 2%, 5%, 11%, and 18% had medial JSN progression, respectively, between the 36- and 48-month visits, p-values = 0.001 and 0.002 unadjusted and adjusted. The rate of change in medial:lateral paBMD, apparent BVF, and spacing were associated with more medial JSN. For rate of medial:lateral paBMD change from lowest to highest quartile, the proportion of each group that experienced medial JSN progression were 5%, 5%, 11%, and 18%, with an unadjusted and adjusted p-value of 0.005. CONCLUSION:Baseline and most rates of periarticular bone change associate with knee OA structural progression, highlighting the close relationship between subchondral bone and JSN. Future studies should focus on developing these measures as predictive and pathophysiological biomarkers, and evaluating their deployment in clinical trials testing bone-targeted therapeutics.

Higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity improve all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. However, the effect of running, a moderate to vigorous activity, in those with knee osteoarthritis (OA), a common arthritis that occurs with aging, a high-risk group for mortality and cardiovascular events, is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association of self-selected running on OA symptom and structure progression in people with knee OA. This nested cohort study within the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) (2004-2014) included those at least 50 years old with OA in at least one knee. Runners were defined using a self-administered questionnaire at the 96-month visit. At baseline and 48-months, symptoms were assessed and radiographs were scored for Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade (2-4) and medial Joint Space Narrowing (JSN) score (0-3). We evaluated the association of self-selected running with outcomes: KL worsening, medial JSN worsening, new knee pain, and improved knee pain over 48 months, adjusting for baseline age, sex, body mass index (BMI), KL score, contralateral KL score, contralateral knee pain, and injury. If data were not available at the 48-month visit, then they were imputed from the 36-month visit. One thousand two hundred three participants had a mean age of 63.2 (7.9) years, BMI of 29.5 (4.6) kg/m2, 45.3% male, and 11.5% runners. Data from 8% of participants required imputation. Adjusted odds ratios for KL grade worsening and new frequent knee pain were 0.9 (0.6-1.3) and 0.9 (0.6-1.6) respectively. Adjusted odds ratio for frequent knee pain resolution was 1.7 (1.0-2.8). Among individuals 50 years old and older with knee OA, self-selected running is associated with improved knee pain and not with worsening knee pain or radiographically defined structural progression. Therefore, self-selected running, which is likely influenced by knee symptoms and may result in lower intensity and shorter duration sessions of exercise, need not be discouraged in people with knee OA.

ObjectiveRegular physical activity, including running, is recommended based on known cardiovascular and mortality benefits. However, controversy exists regarding whether running can be harmful to knees. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of running with knee pain, radiographic osteoarthritis (OA), and symptomatic OA.MethodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional study of Osteoarthritis Initiative participants (2004-2014) with knee radiograph readings, symptom assessments, and completed lifetime physical activity surveys. Using logistic regression, we evaluated the association of history of leisure running with the outcomes of frequent knee pain, radiographic OA, and symptomatic OA. Symptomatic OA required at least 1 knee with both radiographic OA and pain.ResultsOf 2,637 participants, 55.8% were female, the mean ± SD age was 64.3 ± 8.9 years, and the mean ± SD body mass index was 28.5 ± 4.9 kg/m2 ; 29.5% of these participants ran at some time in their lives. Unadjusted odds ratios of pain, radiographic OA, and symptomatic OA for those prior runners and current runners compared to those who never ran were 0.83 and 0.71 (P for trend = 0.002), 0.83 and 0.78 (P for trend = 0.01), and 0.81 and 0.64 (P for trend = 0.0006), respectively. Adjusted models were similar, except radiographic OA results were attenuated.ConclusionThere is no increased risk of symptomatic knee OA among self-selected runners compared with nonrunners in a cohort recruited from the community. In those without OA, running does not appear to be detrimental to the knees.

ObjectiveA major barrier to genetic studies of osteoarthritis (OA) is the need to obtain large numbers of individuals with standardized radiographic evaluations for OA. To address this gap, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of radiographically defined tibiofemoral knee OA in 3,898 cases and 3,168 controls from 4 well-characterized North American cohorts, and we performed replication analysis of previously reported OA loci.MethodsWe performed meta-analysis using a 2-stage design. Stage 1 (discovery) consisted of a GWAS meta-analysis of radiographic knee OA carried out in the Osteoarthritis Initiative and the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Knee OA was defined as definite osteophytes and possible joint space narrowing or total joint replacement in one or both knees. Stage 2 (validation) was performed in the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study and the Genetics of Osteoarthritis study. We genotyped lead meta-analysis variants (P ≤ 1 × 10-4 ) from stage 1 and tested the association between these variants and knee OA. We then combined results from all cohorts in a meta-analysis.ResultsLead variants from stage 1, representing 49 unique loci, were analyzed in stage 2; none met genome-wide significance in the combined analysis of stage 1 and stage 2. We validated 1 locus (rs4867568 near LSP1P3) with nominal significance (P

Aim: To determine whether differences in joint and tendon stiffness as measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography are present in breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgias compared to age-comparable healthy control women. Methods: Postmenopausal women with stage I–III breast cancer who were taking adjuvant aromatase inhibitors and complained of joint pain were enrolled (n = 6). Postmenopausal women with no history of breast cancer, hormone treatment, or joint pain served as controls (n = 7). All subjects had bilateral hands and wrists evaluated by gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound, and shear wave elastography ultrasound. Results: Patients with AI-associated arthralgias had significantly stiffer tendons than controls in the 1st extensor compartment (long axis; p = 0.001), 4th extensor compartment (long axis; p = 0.014), 3rd metacarpophalangeal joint (p = 0.002), the pooled values of the extensor compartments, both long (p = 0.044) and short axes (p = 0.035), and the pooled values for the metacarpophalangeal joints (p = 0.002). On ultrasound, the patients (but not controls) presented with hyperemia and increased tenosynovial fluid in the flexor and extensor tendon sheaths, and the median nerves were symptomatic and bifid; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This is the first study to identify increased tendon stiffness as a putative physiological characteristic of aromatase inhibitor–associated arthralgias. Future studies should determine whether increased tendon stiffness is a risk factor for the development of aromatase inhibitor–associated arthralgias, or a result of aromatase inhibitor treatment.

BackgroundTo describe the scoring methodology and MRI assessments used to evaluate the cross-sectional features observed in cases and controls, to define change over time for different MRI features, and to report the extent of changes over a 24-month period in the Foundation for National Institutes of Health Osteoarthritis Biomarkers Consortium study nested within the larger Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) Study.MethodsWe conducted a nested case-control study. Cases (n = 406) were knees having both radiographic and pain progression. Controls (n = 194) were knee osteoarthritis subjects who did not meet the case definition. Groups were matched for Kellgren-Lawrence grade and body mass index. MRIs were acquired using 3 T MRI systems and assessed using the semi-quantitative MOAKS system. MRIs were read at baseline and 24 months for cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions (BML), osteophytes, meniscal damage and extrusion, and Hoffa- and effusion-synovitis. We provide the definition and distribution of change in these biomarkers over time.ResultsSeventy-three percent of the cases had subregions with BML worsening (vs. 66 % in controls) (p = 0.102). Little change in osteophytes was seen over 24 months. Twenty-eight percent of cases and 10 % of controls had worsening in meniscal scores in at least one subregion (p

ObjectiveTo determine the association between changes in semiquantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers over 24 months and radiographic and pain progression over 48 months in knees with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsWe undertook a nested case-control study as part of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Biomarkers Consortium Project. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association between change over 24 months in semiquantitative MRI markers and radiographic and pain progression in knee OA. MRIs were read according to the MRI OA Knee Score system. We focused on changes in cartilage, osteophytes, meniscus, bone marrow lesions, Hoffa-synovitis, and effusion-synovitis.ResultsThe most parsimonious model included changes in cartilage thickness and surface area, effusion-synovitis, Hoffa-synovitis, and meniscal morphology (C statistic 0.740). Compared with no worsening, worsening in cartilage thickness in ≥3 subregions was associated with 2.8-fold (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.3-5.9) greater odds of being a case, and worsening in cartilage surface area in ≥3 subregions was associated with 2.4-fold (95% CI 1.3-4.4) greater odds of being a case. Worsening of meniscal morphology in any region was associated with 2.2-fold (95% CI 1.3-3.8) greater odds of being a case. Worsening effusion-synovitis and Hoffa-synovitis were also associated with a greater odds of being a case (odds ratios 2.7 and 2.0, respectively).ConclusionTwenty-four-month changes in cartilage thickness, cartilage surface area, effusion-synovitis, Hoffa-synovitis, and meniscal morphology were independently associated with OA progression, suggesting that these factors may serve as efficacy biomarkers in clinical trials of disease-modifying interventions for knee OA.

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether change in fixed-location measures of radiographic joint space width (JSW) and cartilage thickness by MRI predict knee replacement.MethodsKnees replaced between 36 and 60 months' follow-up in the Osteoarthritis Initiative were each matched with one control by age, sex and radiographic status. Radiographic JSW was determined from fixed flexion radiographs and subregional femorotibial cartilage thickness from 3 T MRI. Changes between the annual visit before replacement (T0) and 2 years before T0 (T-2) were compared using conditional logistic regression.ResultsOne hundred and nineteen knees from 102 participants (55.5 % women; age 64.2 ± 8.7 [mean ± SD] years) were studied. Fixed-location JSW change at 22.5 % from medial to lateral differed more between replaced and control knees (case-control [cc] OR = 1.57; 95 % CI: 1.23-2.01) than minimum medial JSW change (ccOR = 1.38; 95 % CI: 1.11-1.71). Medial femorotibial cartilage loss displayed discrimination similar to minimum JSW, and central tibial cartilage loss similar to fixed-location JSW. Location-independent thinning and thickening scores were elevated prior to knee replacement.ConclusionsDiscrimination of structural progression between knee pre-placement cases versus controls was stronger for fixed-location than minimum radiographic JSW. MRI displayed similar discrimination to radiography and suggested greater simultaneous cartilage thickening and loss prior to knee replacement.Key points• Fixed-location JSW predicts surgical knee replacement more strongly than minimum JSW. • MRI predicts knee replacement with similar accuracy to radiographic JSW. • MRI reveals greater cartilage thinning and thickening prior to knee replacement.

ObjectivePain is not always correlated with severity of radiographic osteoarthritis (OA), possibly because people modify activities to manage symptoms. Measures of symptoms that consider pain in the context of activity level may therefore provide greater discrimination than a measure of pain alone. We undertook this study to compare discrimination provided by a measure of pain alone with that provided by combined measures of pain in the context of physical activity across radiographic OA severity levels.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study nested within the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). The population was drawn from 2,127 persons enrolled in an OAI accelerometer monitoring substudy, including those with and those without knee OA. Two composite pain and activity knee symptom (PAKS) scores were calculated as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score (plus 1) divided by a physical activity measure (step count for the first PAKS score [PAKS1 score] and activity count for the second PAKS score [PAKS2 score]). Symptom score discrimination across Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grades was evaluated using histograms and quantile regression.ResultsA total of 1,806 participants (55.5% of whom were women) were included (mean ± SD age 65.1 ± 9.1 years, mean ± SD body mass index 28.4 ± 4.8 kg/m(2) ). The WOMAC pain score, but not the PAKS scores, exhibited a floor effect. The adjusted median WOMAC pain scores by K/L grades 0-4 were 0, 0, 0, 1, and 3, respectively. The adjusted median PAKS1 scores were 24.9, 26.0, 32.4, 46.1, and 97.9, respectively, and the adjusted median PAKS2 scores were 7.2, 7.2, 9.2, 12.9, and 23.8, respectively. The PAKS scores had more statistically significant comparisons between K/L grades than did the WOMAC pain score.ConclusionSymptom assessments incorporating pain and physical activity did not exhibit a floor effect and were better able to discriminate radiographic severity than an assessment of pain alone, particularly in milder disease. Pain in the context of physical activity level should be used to assess knee OA symptoms.

PurposeTo assess whether magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-based cross-sectional measures of structural joint damage can be used to predict knee replacement during the following year.Materials and methodsParticipants were drawn from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a longitudinal observational study that includes 4796 participants who have knee osteoarthritis or are at risk. The HIPAA-compliant protocol was approved by the institutional review boards of all participating centers, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. During the 5 years of follow-up, 199 knees underwent knee replacement and were matched with 199 control knees that did not undergo knee replacement. Knees were matched according to radiographic disease stage and patient sex and age. All knees that underwent knee replacement and had MR images available from the year before surgery were included. MR images were assessed for cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions, meniscal damage, meniscal extrusion, synovitis, and effusion prior to reported knee replacement. Conditional logistic regression was applied to assess the risk of knee replacement. Analyses were performed on a compartmental and knee level.ResultsParticipants had a mean age ± standard deviation of 64.2 years ± 8.4 (range, 47-82 years) and were predominantly women (232 of 398 participants, 58.3%). Risk for knee replacement was significantly increased for knees that exhibited two or more subregions with severe cartilage loss (odds ratio [OR], 16.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.96, 68.76), more than two subregions with bone marrow lesions (OR, 4.00; 95% CI: 1.75, 9.16), medial meniscal maceration (OR, 1.84; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.99), effusion (OR, 4.75; 95% CI: 2.55, 8.85), or synovitis (OR, 2.17; 95% CI: 1.33, 3.56), but not extrusion (OR, 1.00; 95% CI: 0.60,1.67), when compared with knees that did not exhibit these features as the reference standard.ConclusionApart from meniscal extrusion, all features of tissue abnormalities at MR imaging were related to clinical prognosis and could be used to predict knee replacement in the following year.

ObjectiveLittle is known about early knee osteoarthritis (OA). The significance of lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older persons without radiographic OA is unclear. Our objectives were to determine the extent of tissue pathology by MRI and evaluate its significance by testing the following hypotheses: cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions, and meniscal damage are associated with prevalent frequent knee symptoms and incident persistent symptoms; bone marrow lesions and meniscal damage are associated with incident tibiofemoral (TF) cartilage damage; and bone marrow lesions are associated with incident patellofemoral (PF) cartilage damage.MethodsIn a cohort study of 849 Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants who had a bilateral Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) score of 0, we assessed cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions, and meniscal damage using the MRI OA Knee Score, as well as prevalent frequent knee symptoms, incident persistent symptoms, and incident cartilage damage. Multiple logistic regression (one knee per person) was used to evaluate associations between MRI lesions and each of these outcomes.ResultsOf the participants evaluated, 76% had cartilage damage, 61% had bone marrow lesions, 21% had meniscal tears, and 14% had meniscal extrusion. Cartilage damage (any; TF and PF), bone marrow lesions (any; TF and PF), meniscal extrusion, and body mass index (BMI) were associated with prevalent frequent symptoms. Cartilage damage (isolated PF; TF and PF), bone marrow lesions (any; isolated PF; TF and PF), meniscal tears, and BMI were associated with incident persistent symptoms. Hand OA, but no individual lesion type, was associated with incident TF cartilage damage, and bone marrow lesions (any; any PF) with incident PF damage. Having more lesion types was associated with a greater risk of outcomes.ConclusionMRI-detected lesions are not incidental and may represent early disease in persons at increased risk of knee OA.

Osteoarthritis (OA) risk is widely recognized to be heritable but few loci have been identified. Observational studies have identified higher systemic bone mineral density (BMD) to be associated with an increased risk of radiographic knee osteoarthritis. With this in mind, we sought to evaluate whether well-established genetic loci for variance in BMD are associated with risk for radiographic OA in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) and the Johnston County Osteoarthritis (JoCo) Project. Cases had at least one knee with definite radiographic OA, defined as the presence of definite osteophytes with or without joint space narrowing (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] grade ≥ 2) and controls were absent for definite radiographic OA in both knees (KL grade ≤ 1 bilaterally). There were 2014 and 658 Caucasian cases, respectively, in the OAI and JoCo Studies, and 953 and 823 controls. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified for association analysis from the literature. Genotyping was carried out on Illumina 2.5M and 1M arrays in Genetic Components of Knee OA (GeCKO) and JoCo, respectively and imputation was done. Association analyses were carried out separately in each cohort with adjustments for age, body mass index (BMI), and sex, and then parameter estimates were combined across the two cohorts by meta-analysis. We identified four SNPs significantly associated with prevalent radiographic knee OA. The strongest signal (p = 0.0009; OR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.08-1.37) maps to 12q3, which contains a gene coding for SP7. Additional loci map to 7p14.1 (TXNDC3), 11q13.2 (LRP5), and 11p14.1 (LIN7C). For all four loci the allele associated with higher BMD was associated with higher odds of OA. A BMD risk allele score was not significantly associated with OA risk. This meta-analysis demonstrates that several genomewide association studies (GWAS)-identified BMD SNPs are nominally associated with prevalent radiographic knee OA and further supports the hypothesis that BMD, or its determinants, may be a risk factor contributing to OA development. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

ObjectiveTo investigate the public health impact of obesity and other modifiable risk factors related to physical inactivity in adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsThe frequency of inactivity as defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services was assessed from objective accelerometer monitoring of 1,089 participants (ages 49-84 years) with radiographic knee OA during the Osteoarthritis Initiative 48-month visit (2008-2010). The relationship between modifiable factors (weight status, dietary fat, fiber, smoking, depressive symptoms, knee function, knee pain, and knee confidence) with inactivity was assessed using odds ratios (ORs) and attributable fractions (AFs), controlling for descriptive factors (age, sex, race, education, lives alone, employment, frequent knee symptoms, and comorbidity).ResultsAlmost half (48.9%) of participants with knee OA were inactive. Being overweight (OR 1.8, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2-2.5) or obese (OR 3.9, 95% CI 2.6-5.7), having inadequate dietary fiber intake (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2), severe knee dysfunction (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8), and severe pain (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.5) were significantly related to inactivity, controlling for descriptive factors. Modifiable factors with significant average AFs were being overweight or obese (AF 23.8%, 95% CI 10.5-38.6%) and inadequate dietary fiber (AF 12.1%, 95% CI 0.1-24.5%), controlling for all factors.ConclusionBeing obese or overweight, the quality of the diet, severe pain, and severe dysfunction are significantly associated with physical inactivity in adults with knee OA. All components should be considered in designing physical activity interventions that target arthritis populations with low activity levels.