Relationship between RAR and the risk of osteoarthritis: a comprehensive analysis based on NHANES data (1999-2018)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent disease characterized by the progressive loss of articular cartilage and chronic inflammation, contributing to an increasing epidemiological burden. While several risk factors have been identified, there remains a significant lack of reliable biomarkers for assessing OA risk. This study aims to investigate the association between the red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio (RAR) and OA risk, as well as to evaluate its potential utility as a biomarker for OA risk assessment.

We utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to include a total of 35,902 participants, among whom 4,285 were diagnosed with OA. A weighted logistic regression model was employed to assess the association between different quartiles of RAR and OA risk, adjusting for relevant confounding factors. Additionally, we applied a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model to explore the non-linear dose-response relationship between RAR and OA risk, and conducted subgroup analyses to further elucidate this association.

RAR was significantly and positively associated with the risk of OA, with an odds ratio of 1.91 (95 % CI: 1.58-2.31, P = 5.31 × 10-10) for the highest quartile (Q4) in the weighted multivariate logistic regression model. This indicates a marked increase in OA risk with rising RAR levels. Furthermore, the relationship between RAR and OA was non-linear, and the effects of RAR exhibited significant heterogeneity across different populations.

The level of RAR is positively correlated with OA risk, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for OA risk assessment. However, since causality cannot be established, further prospective or longitudinal studies are necessary to validate its clinical relevance.