A study published in Arthritis Care & Research has uncovered an elevated risk of Parkinson’s disease in individuals with osteoarthritis.
The retrospective study using Taiwan’s Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 included 33,360 patients who were 50–64 years old and had osteoarthritis in 2002–2005. A comparison group consisted of 33,360 age- and sex- matched individuals without osteoarthritis. The osteoarthritis group had a 41% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, after adjustments. Patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis appeared to have a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease than patients with non-knee and non-hip osteoarthritis or with uncategorized osteoarthritis.
Although the mechanisms behind a potential link between osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s disease are unknown, both conditions involve inflammation.
“Coexisting osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s disease can additively increase the risk of falling. Moreover, osteoarthritis-related mobility impairments may mask early motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease,” said senior author Shin-Liang Pan, MD, PhD, of National Taiwan University. “Health professionals need to be alert to the potential link between these two diseases.”
Additional Information
Link to Study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acr.24708
About Journal
Arthritis Care & Research, an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology and the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, publishes original research, review articles, and editorials that promote excellence in the clinical practice of rheumatology. Relevant to the care of individuals with rheumatic diseases, major topics are evidence-based practice studies, clinical problems, practice guidelines, educational, social, and public health issues, health economics, health care policy, and future trends in rheumatology practice.
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