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Multiple joint osteoarthritis poses greater risk for African-American men and women

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African-American men and women are more at risk for several types of multiple large joint osteoarthritis but less at risk for hand osteoarthritis than Caucasian men and women, according to a recent study published in Arthritis and Rheumatism.

“Racial differences in osteoarthritis phenotypes were more significant than gender disparity,” Amanda E. Nelson, MD, MSCR, stated in a press release. “Our findings suggest a substantial health burden of large joint osteoarthritis, particularly hip and spine, among African-Americans and further studies that address this concern are warranted.”

Researchers analyzed radiographic data for the hands, knee, hips and spine for African-American and Caucasian men (mean age >65 years) and women with a mean BMI that categorized them as obese, according to the study. One-third of the cohort was male and two-thirds were Caucasian. Specifically, Nelson and her team looked at tibiofemoral, patellofemoral and lumbosacral joints, as previous research mainly limited on Caucasian women. Information on age, gender, race and body mass index was collected through questionnaires and clinical exams.

In 1,419 participants, researchers found 32 whole body osteoarthritic phenotypes; in 2,083 participants, they also found 16 hand phenotypes that were mutually exclusive, according to the study. African-American patients had significantly fewer incidences of osteoarthritis in finger tip joints alone and with other hand joints when compared to Caucasian patients. African-American patients were also twice as likely to have knee osteoarthritis and had 77% greater chance of developing knee and spine osteoarthritis in combination, according to the study.

Overall, 62% of patients suffered from spine osteoarthritis. In addition, 42% of patients had knee osteoarthritis, 36% had hip osteoarthritis, and 32% had hand osteoarthritis, according to the release.

Reference:

• Nelson AE, Renner JB, Schwartz TA, et al. Differences in multi-joint radiographic osteoarthritis among African Americans and Caucasians: the Johnson County osteoarthritis project. Arthritis Rheum. 2011; Published online before print. doi:10.1002/art.30610.

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