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The relationship between foot and ankle symptoms and risk of developing knee osteoarthritis: data from the osteoarthritis initiative

The relationship between foot and ankle symptoms and risk of developing knee osteoarthritis: data from the osteoarthritis initiative Thumbnail


Abstract

Objective
To investigate whether foot and/or ankle symptoms increase the risk of developing (1) knee symptoms and (2) symptomatic radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design
1020 Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants who were at-risk of knee OA, but were without knee symptoms or radiographic knee OA, were investigated. Participants indicated the presence and laterality of foot/ankle symptoms at baseline. The main outcome was development of knee symptoms (pain, aching or stiffness in and around the knee on most days of the month for at least 1 month in the past year). A secondary outcome was development of symptomatic radiographic knee OA (symptoms plus Kellgren and Lawrence [KL] grade =2), over the subsequent 4 years. Associations between foot/ankle symptoms and study outcomes were assessed by logistic regression models.

Results
Foot/ankle symptoms in either or both feet significantly increased the odds of developing knee symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10 to 2.19), and developing symptomatic radiographic knee OA (adjusted OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.69 to 6.37). Based on laterality, contralateral foot/ankle symptoms were associated with developing both knee symptoms (adjusted OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.68) and symptomatic radiographic knee OA (adjusted OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.06 to 8.98), whilst bilateral foot/ankle symptoms were associated with developing symptomatic radiographic knee OA (adjusted OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.76 to 9.17).

Conclusion
In individuals at-risk of knee OA, the presence of contralateral foot/ankle symptoms in particular increases risk of developing both knee symptoms and symptomatic radiographic knee OA.

Acceptance Date Dec 1, 2016
Publication Date May 1, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Print ISSN 1063-4584
Publisher Elsevier
Pages 639-646
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2016.12.003
Keywords Osteoarthritis, Knee Osteoarthritis, Arthritis, Epidemiology
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2016.12.003

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