Accumulation of Metabolic Risk Factors Such As Overweight, Hypertension, Dyslipidaemia, and Impaired Glucose Tolerance Raises the Risk of Occurrence and Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis: a 3-year Follow-up of the ROAD Study

Objective: To clarify the association between the occurrence and progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with components of metabolic syndrome (MS), including overweight (OW), hypertension (HT), dyslipidaemia (DL), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), in a general population.

Design: From the large-scale population-based cohort study entitled Research on Osteoarthritis/Osteoporosis Against Disability (ROAD) initiated in 2005, 1,690 participants (596 men, 1,094 women) residing in mountainous and coastal areas were enrolled. Of these, 1,384 individuals (81.9%; 466 men, 918 women) completed the second survey, including knee radiography, 3 years later. KOA was defined as Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade ≥ 2 using paired X-ray films. Based on changes in KL grades between the baseline and second surveys, cumulative incidence and progression of KOA were determined. OW, HT, DL, and IGT at baseline were assessed using standard criteria.

Results: The cumulative incidence of KOA among 1,384 completers over 3 years was 3.3%/year, and progression in KL grades for either knee, 8.0%/year. Logistic regression analyses after adjusting for potential risk factors revealed that the odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of KOA significantly increased according to the number of MS components present (OR vs no component: one component, 2.33; two components, 2.82; ≥three components, 9.83). Similarly, progression of KOA significantly increased according to the number of MS components present (OR vs no component: one component, 1.38; two components, 2.29; ≥three components: 2.80).

Conclusion: Accumulation of MS components is significantly related to both occurrence and progression of KOA. MS prevention may be useful in reducing future KOA risk.