Osteoarthritis: associations and comorbidities

Data from the multi-centre ComOA study

2024-06-14

(Press-News.org) In the 2023 update of their recommendations for osteoarthritis management, EULAR – The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology – recognise osteoarthritis as a severe disease, and one with important implications for both the individual and society.3 However, most people with osteoarthritis do not receive optimal management,4,5 and this represents an important unmet need – especially when considering additional systemic comorbidities. To explore this further, ComOA6 has combined case-control and cohort studies for over 3 million people in primary care in the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain. The analyses – shared at the 2024 EULAR congress in Vienna – examines associations between osteoarthritis and 61 different comorbidities identified before and after the first osteoarthritis diagnosis. The researches then tested the similarity of their findings across the four countries – where congruency was determined to be present if the results of all centres were significant and favoured in one direction.

Across the four databases there were 845,373 osteoarthritis cases and 2,556,243 controls. Pooled prevalence data showed several conditions that were more common in people with osteoarthritis than in matched controls. The conditions with leading prevalence were chronic back pain, hypertension, allergy, cataract, vertigo, depression, and diabetes. Of 33 comorbidities studied, 10 such as fibromyalgia, polymyalgia, and chronic back pain showed congruent evidence of association with osteoarthritis during the diagnosis across the four countries. The three major comorbidities developed after the diagnosis of osteoarthritis were fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and polymyalgia. No congruent evidence of association with either before or after the diagnosis of osteoarthritis was found for 14 chronic conditions, including heart failure, diabetes, dementia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

These are important findings to consider for planning management of people with osteoarthritis, and suggest further research is warranted to establish the causal association between osteoarthritis and its comorbidities.

Source

Swain S, et al. Comorbidities in people with osteoarthritis in four European primary care settings - comprehensive evidence from the ComOA study. Presented at EULAR 2024; OP0230.

Ann Rheum Dis 2024; DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2024-eular.3327.

References

1. EULAR RheumaMap. A research roadmap to transform the lives of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases; 2019.

2. Hunter DJ, Bierma- Zeinstra S. Osteoarthritis. Lancet 2019;393:1745–59.

3. Moseng T, et al. EULAR recommendations for the non- pharmacological core management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: 2023 update. Ann Rheum Dis 2024; doi:10.1136/ard-2023-225041.

4. Basedow M, Esterman A. Assessing appropriateness of osteoarthritis care using quality indicators: a systematic review. J Eval Clin Pract 2015;21:782–9.

5. Hagen KB, et al. Quality of community- based osteoarthritis care: a systematic review and meta- analysis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2016;68:1443–52.

6. Swain S, et al. Comorbidities in osteoarthritis (ComOA): a combined cross-sectional, case–control and cohort study using large electronic health records in four European countries. BMJ Open 2022;12:e052816.

About EULAR

EULAR is the European umbrella organisation representing scientific societies, health professional associations and organisations for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). EULAR aims to reduce the impact of RMDs on individuals and society, as well as improve RMD treatments, prevention, and rehabilitation. To this end, EULAR fosters excellence in rheumatology education and research, promotes the translation of research advances into daily care, and advocates for the recognition of the needs of those living with RMDs by EU institutions.

Contact

EULAR Communications, communications@eular.org

Notes to Editors

EULAR Recommendations

EULAR School of Rheumatology

EULAR Press Releases

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

High-precision measurements challenge our understanding of Cepheids

2024-06-14

“Classical Cepheids” are a type of pulsating star that rhythmically brightens and dims over time. These pulsations help astronomers measure vast distances across space, which makes Cepheids crucial “standard candles” that help us understand the size and scale of our universe. Despite their importance, studying Cepheids is challenging. Their pulsations and potential interactions with companion stars create complex patterns that are difficult to measure accurately. Different instruments and methods used over the years have led to inconsistent data, ...

New approach to identifying altermagnetic materials

2024-06-14

Magnetic materials have traditionally been classified as either ferromagnetic, like the decorative magnets on iron refrigerator doors that are seemingly always magnetic, or antiferromagnetic, like two bar magnets placed end-to-end with opposite poles facing each other, canceling each other out so that the material has no net magnetism. However, there appears to be a third class of magnetic materials exhibiting what in 2022 was dubbed altermagnetism. Microscopically, magnetism arises from a collection of tiny magnets associated with electrons, ...

Is magnesium the sleeping potion that enables sandhoppers to survive cold winters?

2024-06-14

Magnesium compounds are a common ingredient of many remedies designed to help people wind down and escape the stresses of modern life. However, a new study has shown it is not only humans that are using forms of the chemical as a way to help them survive challenging conditions. In tests conducted on beaches in Cornwall, and in the laboratory at the University of Plymouth, scientists confirmed the findings of previous studies which showed large sandhoppers (Talitrus saltator) increase the levels of magnesium ions in their bodies as temperatures fall. This slows them down so they are less active than they would be during the warmer months. However, the new study has shown for the first time ...

Report highlights trajectory challenges for women in elite football

2024-06-14

Report highlights trajectory challenges for women in elite football A new report commissioned by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPRO), undertaken by Edith Cowan University (ECU), surveyed footballers across 12 countries in six confederations. More than 700 players participated in the survey, with 71.5% classifying themselves as professional, with a further ...

How men can better support each other’s mental health

2024-06-14

Men are often urged to talk about their mental health with friends, but what does that involve? This week, researchers from the Men’s Health Research Program at UBC introduced In Good Company, a website and podcast series aimed at answering precisely that question. The website provides practical advice for men seeking to make new connections, strengthen existing relationships and provide mutual support. The podcast series interviews men’s health experts and psychologists to explore the nuances and benefits of authentic male connection. Both ...

Low-sodium alternatives can lead to major health gains in Indonesia

2024-06-14

Excess sodium intake and a lack of potassium are major contributing factors towards high blood pressure in Indonesia, prompting calls for low-sodium potassium-rich salt substitutes (LSSS) to be readily available to improve health and curb health costs. New Griffith University research has looked at the impact of switching out current table salt (100 per cent sodium chloride) with a low-sodium alternative in Indonesia. Lead author Dr Leopold Aminde from the School of Medicine and Dentistry said the World Health Organisation has recommended a population-wide reduction in sodium consumption to tackle the burden of high blood pressure and ...

25 years of massive fusion energy experiment data completely open on the “cloud”, to be available to everyone

2024-06-14

Background High-temperature fusion plasma experiments conducted in the Large Helical Device (LHD) of the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), have renewed the world record for an acquired data amount, 0.92 terabytes (TB) per experiment, in February 2022, by using a full range of state-of-the-art plasma diagnostic devices*1. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which is currently under construction in France through the international collaboration of seven parties, is expected to generate ...

Rice lab achieves major gains in perovskite solar cell stability

2024-06-14

EMBARGOED for release until 1pm U.S. Central Time (2pm Eastern) on June 13, 2024 HOUSTON – (June 13, 2024) – Solar power is not only the fastest growing energy technology in recent history but also one of the cheapest energy sources and the most impactful in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A Rice University study featured on the cover of today’s issue of Science describes a way to synthesize formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) ⎯ the type of crystal currently used to make the highest-efficiency perovskite solar cells ⎯ into ultrastable, high-quality photovoltaic films. The overall efficiency of the resulting ...

New mechanisms in the development of stroke were discovered

2024-06-14

A group of researchers from the University of Tartu and international scientists discovered new mechanisms of how stroke occurs by studying changes in mouse and human cells. The study lays the foundation for new, more precise treatment methods and better diagnostics, which could improve cardiovascular health in the future. One of the authors of the study, a PhD student of Faculty of Medicine of University of Tartu Katyayani Sukhavasi said that affecting people of all ages, every fifth minute, someone suffers a stroke resulting in brain bleeding or ischemia. „Consequently, many people die ...

The BMJ Commission sets out manifesto for a healthier UK

2024-06-14

Long term thinking and stable, consistent policies are key to improving our nation’s financial prosperity and wellbeing, say experts on The BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS as they set out their manifesto for a healthier UK. The BMJ Commission brings together leading experts from medicine and healthcare to identify the key challenges and priorities and make recommendations aimed at ensuring that the vision of the NHS is realised. Their key pledges of what they would do if they were in government are: Reaffirming ...

NEW STUDY: Across eight Amazon countries, forests on Indigenous lands reduce spread of 27 diseases – From respiratory ailments to illnesses spread by insects, animals

Osteoarthritis: associations and comorbidities

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: