Radiographic features of knee and hip osteoarthritis represent characteristics of an individual, in addition to severity of osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate to what extent radiographic features of knees and hips that are normally related to osteoarthritis (OA) represent characteristics of an individual in addition to OA severity.

Methods: We studied a cohort of individuals (n = 1002) with very early signs of hip and knee OA, from the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) study. Baseline radiographs were evaluated by digital analyses, using Holy’s and Knee Images Digital Analysis (KIDA) software, providing distinct quantitative measures of radiographic OA features. In addition, conventional Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grading was performed. Digital parameters were evaluated for correlations within participants between contralateral (left vs. right hip and left vs. right knee), ipsilateral (e.g. left hip vs. left knee), and diagonal joints (e.g. left hip vs. right knee). Analyses were performed separately for participants with KL grade 0–I and those with evident radiographic OA (KL grade II–III). Regression analyses determined whether demographic characteristics were related to radiographic features.

Results: Correlations between digital parameters and KL grade were moderate, and within each KL grade large variation was found. Within participants strong correlations were found for digital parameters between joints in individuals with KL grade 0–I (R = 0.60–0.89), strongest for contralateral comparison, but no statistically significant correlations were found for participants with KL grade II–III. The demographic characteristics age, gender, height, and weight were, to a limited extent (R² = 0.01–0.20) but statistically significant, related to radiographic characteristics.

Conclusion: Using digital analyses of radiographic OA, strong correlations between joints within participants were found. These correlations diminished when OA became evident. This has implications for monitoring joint damage in (very) early OA with digital analyses.

Acknowledgements

We thank Marja Lafeber (ML) for the KIDA measurements. This work was supported by the Dutch Arthritis Association. CHECK is led by a steering committee of 16 members with expertise in different fields of OA, chaired by JWJ Bijlsma and coordinated by J Wesseling. Involved are: Academic Hospital Maastricht; Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam; Jan van Breemen Institute/VU Medical Centre Amsterdam; Kennemer Gasthuis Haarlem; Martini Hospital Groningen/Allied Health Care Centre for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Groningen; Medical Spectrum Twente Enschede/Twenteborg Hospital Almelo; St Maartenskliniek Nijmegen; Leiden University Medical Centre; University Medical Centre Utrecht; and Wilhelmina Hospital Assen.