African Americans More Likely to Suffer Severe Knee Osteoarthritis

Newswise — African Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians to suffer from an increase in the severity of knee osteoarthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Investigators studied 1,138 African American and Caucasian participants in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, comparing the baseline radiographic (X-ray) measurement of knee osteoarthritis to a five-year follow up measurement. Investigators considered age, gender, body mass index, education and history of knee injury, as well as ethnicity as possible risk factors for development or progression of knee osteoarthritis. Twenty percent of those without knee osteoarthritis at baseline had developed osteoarthritis five years later. Those who were older, had a higher body mass index, and a history of knee injury were more likely to develop new knee osteoarthritis. Almost half of those with osteoarthritis at baseline had their condition worsen over the five years. African American men and women were twice as likely as Caucasians to have their knee osteoarthritis get worse, regardless of their other risk factors.

"This confirms our earlier research suggesting that African Americans might be at higher risk than Caucasians of having their osteoarthritis worsen" said Joanne Jordan, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Orthopaedics, Thurston Arthritis Research Center of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and lead investigator in the study. "Importantly, higher body mass index and other traditional risk factors did not explain why the African Americans had this greater risk. We will be examining other factors, such as diet, occupational demands, and bone density as possible reasons for this observation."

The American College of Rheumatology is the professional organization for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on the ACR's annual meeting, see http://www.rheumatology.org/annual.