Is multi-joint hip and knee osteoarthritis more than the sum of its parts?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is typically studied in isolated joints, but humans are interconnected systems. This raises the question of how multi-joint OA manifests, and whether it forms a distinct subgroup. This study aimed to investigate whether individuals with OA worsening in both the hip and the knee exhibit unique clinical, structural, or demographic characteristics compared to those with isolated OA worsening or no worsening.

We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, including 1958 participants with radiographic assessments of hip and knee joints at baseline and 48-month follow-up. Participants were categorized into four groups based on joint space narrowing: no worsening, hip-only worsening, knee-only worsening, or combined worsening in 48 months. Univariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to compare the combined worsening group to the other groups.

Combined worsening occurred in 12.5% of participants. Compared to those with no worsening, the combined worsening group had more severe baseline radiographic knee OA (aOR: 1.38 (1.15-1.64)). Compared to hip-only OA worsening, the combined group had more severe knee OA (aOR: 1.36 (1.11-1.67)). Compared to those with knee-only OA worsening, combined OA worsening was associated with female sex (aOR: 1.92 (1.31-2.76)).

Our findings show differences between individuals with combined or isolated OA worsening, which may reflect accumulation of single-joint risk factors rather than a distinct trajectory. This research provides a foundation for large-scale investigations into multi-joint OA subtypes to improve patient stratification and inform targeted interventions.