According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), around 10 million people in the UK are living with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and can cause joints to become stiff, swollen, and painful.
Beyond its symptoms, research shows that osteoarthritis has close links with other areas of health. More specifically, experts have identified several health factors and conditions that may contribute towards the development of osteoarthritis, occur alongside it due to shared risk factors, or develop as a complication.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at the link between osteoarthritis and other health conditions.
What health conditions can increase the risk of osteoarthritis?
According to research, certain health conditions may increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. This includes…
Obesity
Obesity is a significant risk factor for developing osteoarthritis. The more weight placed on a joint, the more stressed it becomes and the more likely it’ll wear down and become damaged.
Take this study, for example, which found that obese people had more severe joint degeneration in their knees than people of a healthy weight.
In line with these findings, research shows that overweight men and women are five and four times more likely to develop osteoarthritis, respectively, than those of a healthy weight.
Beyond the stress placed on joints, fat is also an active tissue that produces chemicals known to increase inflammation – which can further contribute to arthritis. For this reason, research has identified a close link between obesity and forms of inflammatory arthritis, such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, according to the Arthritis Foundation, around 70% of people with gout are overweight and 14% are obese.
As a result, maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of osteoarthritis. Head over to the fitness and exercise and diet and nutrition sections of our website for inspiration.
Previous joint injuries
Research has found that previous joint injuries can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis due to the inflammation, cartilage damage, and instability it causes.
As a result, studies suggest that people with a history of joint injury are three to six times more likely to develop osteoarthritis than those without a history of injury – and will typically be diagnosed with the condition around 10 years earlier.
According to research, meniscal tears, intra-articular fractures, and ligament injuries are among the injuries with the highest risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Genetics
We all have different anatomies, and research has found that some people are born with specific differences in body structure that place more stress on a particular joint – making them more prone to developing osteoarthritis.
For example, studies have linked supinated feet (when weight rolls to the edges of your feet instead of the ball of your foot) with a higher risk of knee osteoarthritis.
More generally, research suggests that around 40-70% of osteoarthritis cases are linked to genetics.
Other medical conditions
Medical conditions that affect joint health can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
This includes conditions that affect blood flow, increase inflammation, and cause bleeding in the joints. This includes diabetes, osteonecrosis (bone death caused by poor blood supply), underactive thyroid, and hemarthrosis (an injury that causes significant damage and may cause bleeding into joint spaces).
What health conditions can occur alongside osteoarthritis?
Several health conditions commonly occur alongside osteoarthritis, likely due to shared risk factors. We’ll cover some of these below.
Heart disease
Research has found that people with osteoarthritis may be at higher risk of developing heart disease. In this study, people with osteoarthritis of the knee had a 29% higher risk of stroke, 26% higher risk of heart disease, and 20% higher risk of heart attack.
Studies show that metabolic syndrome often goes hand in hand with osteoarthritis, too. Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of five risk factors that frequently occur together and can increase the risk of heart disease – among these are high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. According to experts, around 60% of people with osteoarthritis also have metabolic syndrome, compared to 23% of people in the general population.
The link between osteoarthritis and heart disease may, in part, be caused by a lack of exercise due to severe joint pain. For example, according to the Arthritis Foundation, people with osteoarthritis who don’t exercise are more likely to have heart disease. It could also be because obesity is a shared risk factor.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that causes breathing problems by restricting airflow.
Because both COPD and osteoarthritis are both linked with a lack of exercise and increased inflammation throughout the body, studies have found that osteoarthritis is common among people with COPD.
In this scientific review, 35% of people with COPD also had osteoarthritis. Another study listed COPD as one of the top three most common co-existing conditions with osteoarthritis.
Stomach ulcers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are medicines widely used to treat pain and inflammation – including in osteoarthritis patients.
While many people take NSAIDs without any negative consequences, research has found that some people experience side effects, including stomach ulcers. In this study, stomach ulcers were twice as common in people with osteoarthritis than those without the condition.
What health conditions can be potential complications of osteoarthritis?
In some cases, research has found that osteoarthritis can lead to health complications. Examples include…
Anxiety and depression
Living with any kind of long-term health condition can affect your mental health and, as a result, studies suggest that people with osteoarthritis are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. For example, the Arthritis Foundation estimates that rates of depression and anxiety may be two to 10 times higher in people with arthritis than in the general population.
When it comes to osteoarthritis and mental health, there are a few factors at play. There’s a clear link between pain and depression – and many studies show clearly that people with arthritis with the highest pain levels are most at risk of anxiety and depression.
Other studies suggest that inflammation may play a role in the development of depression. In this study, researchers analysed levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation that’s often elevated in people with osteoarthritis. It found that CRP levels were 31% higher in people with symptoms of depression than those with no depressive symptoms.
There’s also evidence that anxiety and depression can lower your pain threshold – sometimes creating a difficult cycle where each condition worsens the other.
Lastly, living with osteoarthritis can be painful and exhausting, which can make it more difficult to exercise, sleep well, and socialise. These negative changes to your lifestyle may further contribute to depression.
Sleep disturbances
Because osteoarthritis causes sore joints, getting consistent, good-quality sleep can be difficult. In fact, research suggests that up to 80% of people with arthritis struggle to fall and/or stay asleep.
As a result, people with osteoarthritis may be at higher risk of developing sleep disorders – including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome.
Research has also found that the relationship between pain and poor sleep works both ways – with many people experiencing more pain after a bad night’s sleep. One reason for this is that poor sleep impacts the body’s ability to rest and repair itself – often resulting in a cycle of pain and insomnia.
If this is something you struggle with, check out our article; 9 tips for sleeping better with arthritis.
Weight gain
Living with stiff and painful joints can impact your ability and desire to exercise. A lack of physical activity doesn’t only impact quality of life – but it can contribute to weight gain too.
As well as exacerbating existing arthritis symptoms, carrying excess weight also increases your risk of several health conditions – including diabetes and heart disease.
Bone fractures
Some research has linked osteoarthritis with an increased risk of bone fractures. In this study, spinal osteoarthritis increased the risk of spinal fractures.
However, it’s important to note that research remains mixed. For example, while this study found that osteoarthritis increased the risk of recurrent falls, researchers didn’t note an increase in the risk of fractures. As a result, further research is needed to confirm the link between osteoarthritis and bone fractures.
Nerve root compression
Nerve root compression, also known as radiculopathy, occurs when a nerve in the spine is damaged or compressed. This can happen in the neck, mid-back, or lower back – often causing pain, numbness, muscle weakness, and pins and needles.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the back. It can occur anywhere along the spine, but the lower back and neck are most commonly affected.
Because osteoarthritis causes the cartilage padding on the ends of bones to wear down, it can cause small joints located in the spine to rub together and form bony growths (called spurs). When these spurs press on nerves, it can lead to radiculopathy.
Final thoughts…
We might not always consider how the different areas of our health are connected. But, as research shows, conditions like osteoarthritis are often closely linked with – and may have a significant impact on – our overall wellbeing.
For further reading, you might like to browse our range of bone health articles. You’ll find everything from tips for sleeping better with arthritis to diet tips for people living with arthritis. We also have a general guide to living with osteoarthritis – symptoms, causes, and ways to cope.
Has anything in this article surprised you? Do you have anything else that you’d like to add? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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