INTRODUCTION

Two common conditions – osteoarthritis and atherosclerosis – may be more closely linked in women than previously thought.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ALREADY?

Osteoarthritis and atherosclerosis don’t seem to have much in common. Osteoarthritis is a condition that makes joints stiff and painful, often in the knees, hips, and hands. Atherosclerosis, on the other hand, affects the arteries. It occurs when fatty deposits called plaques build up along the inside of these blood vessels. This is an early sign of heart disease. The plaques can narrow and clog the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Despite the differences between the conditions, some studies suggest they may be related. For example, research shows that people with osteoarthritis in their knee or hip have a raised risk of dying of heart and circulation problems, which are often caused by atherosclerosis. Also, long-term inflammation is a main feature of
both conditions – in the joints for osteoarthritis and in the arteries for atherosclerosis.

To learn more about how these conditions might be linked, researchers gathered data on 5,650 men and women aged 55 and older who’d taken part in a large study in the Netherlands. At the start of the study, each person had scans of their arteries to check for atherosclerosis. They also had X-rays to check whether they had
osteoarthritis in their knees, hips, and hands, and how severe it was if present. The people had X-rays again after about six years and then once more after 10 years. The researchers used this information to see whether people with atherosclerosis were more likely to have osteoarthritis and whether it was more likely to get worse over time.

WHAT DOES THE NEW STUDY SAY?

Women with atherosclerosis were more likely to have osteoarthritis in their knees and hands, but not in their hips, compared with women without atherosclerosis. The difference in risk was fairly small but significant. Women with osteoarthritis in their hands also had a higher chance of it getting worse if they had atherosclerosis
as well. The researchers did not find a link between atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis in men.

HOW RELIABLE ARE THE FINDINGS?

This was a good-quality study that took account of several things that might have been responsible for the link between osteoarthritis and atherosclerosis, including people’s ages, whether they smoked, and whether they had other health conditions. This makes it more likely that the link with atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis in
women is genuine.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

These findings suggest that there is a link between osteoarthritis and atherosclerosis in women aged 55 and older. This may mean that women with osteoarthritis in the hand or knee also have a higher risk of heart disease. However, it’s too soon to know for certain. Future studies will need to explore this link and what it
means. This may one day lead to a better understanding of both conditions and how to prevent and treat them.

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Date summary prepared: June 2013

Summary based on research article published on: 6 May 2012

From:  Hoeven, T, A. et al Association of atherosclerosis with presence and progression of osteoarthritis: the Rotterdam Study. Ann Rheum Dis 2013;72:646-651 doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201178

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