Increased arterial stiffness in patients with end-stage osteoarthritis: a case-control study

Both osteoarthritis (OA) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are prevalent conditions which often co-exist. Vascular involvement in the pathogenesis of these diseases, as well as increased cardiovascular risk in OA patients give occasion to investigate arterial stiffness in OA. The aim of this study was to establish associations between OA and arterial stiffness.

The characteristics of arterial stiffness were measured with Sphygmocor and HDI devices in 48 patients (age 63 ± 7 years (mean ± SD)) with end-stage OA awaiting knee and hip replacement and in 49 age and gender matched controls (61 ± 7 years). Independent Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare means between the groups. Correlation between variables was determined using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis.

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (car-fem PWV) was increased in the patients with OA compared to the controls (9.6 ± 2.4 and 8.4 ± 1.9 m/s, p = 0.015 respectively). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and white blood cells count were significantly higher in the OA patients compared with the controls (1.80 ± 1.10 and 1.48 ± 1.32 mg/l, p = 0.042; 6.5 ± 1.5 and 5.6 ± 1.9 10(9)/l, p = 0.001 respectively). In multiple regression analysis age (p < 0.001), mean arterial blood pressure (p = <0.001) and OA status (p = 0.029) were found to be independent predictors of car-fem PWV.

This study showed that patients with OA had increased aortic stiffness compared to non-OA controls. The potential link between arterial stiffening and OA suggests that vascular alterations are involved in OA pathogenesis and could be responsible for increased cardiovascular risk in end-stage OA patients.