The Association between Hand Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis: A Longitudinal Study

• Published in: Orthopedics & Traumatology Vol. 58; no. 2; pp. 206 - 209
• Main Authors: Tsuchiya, Takuto, Takeuchi, Yoshinori, Toba, Naoki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: West-Japanese Society of Orthopedics & Traumatology 25.03.2009
• Subjects: hand osteoarthritis; longitudinal study; osteoporosis
• ISSN: 0037-1033; 1349-4333
• DOI: 10.5035/nishiseisai.58.206

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related disorder. Numerous cross-sectional studies have shown the association between hand OA and osteoporosis, but there have been few longitudinal studies. The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the association between the progression of hand OA and the loss of bone mineral density (BMD). The subjects in this study were 35 elderly women. Their mean age was 69.6 years at the initial examination. They had radiographs of the left hand, and osteoporosis was assessed by DIP (Digital Image Processing) method at the second metacarpal bone. At least five years (average 7.9 years) later, they were examined again. Radiographic OA was defined as Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or higher. Fifteen joints of the left hands were investigated for radiographic OA. We compared the loss of BMD between two groups; one was a group with increased number of OA joints and the other a group without. In conclusion, the number of OA joints at the initial examination was significantly correlated with age, but not with BMD, and there was no significant difference in loss of BMD between the two groups with and without OA progression.