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Biomedical subjects

D T Felson

Publications and source records attributed to D T Felson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Glucosamine and chondroitin preparations are widely touted in the lay press as remedies for osteoarthritis (OA), but uncertainty about their efficacy exists among the medical community. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate benefit of glucosamine and chondroitin preparations for OA symptoms using meta-analysis combined with systematic quality assessment of clinical trials of these preparations in knee and/or hip OA. DATA SOURCES: We searched for human clinical trials in MEDLINE (1966 to June 1999) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register using the terms osteoarthritis, osteoarthrosis, degenerative arthritis, glucosamine, chondroitin, and glycosaminoglycans. We also manually searched review articles, manuscripts, and supplements from rheumatology and OA journals and sought unpublished data by contacting content experts, study authors, and manufacturers of glucosamine or chondroitin. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they were published or unpublished double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of 4 or more weeks' duration that tested glucosamine or chondroitin for knee or hip OA and reported extractable data on the effect of treatment on symptoms. Fifteen of 37 studies were included in the analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Reviewers performed data extraction and scored each trial using a quality assessment instrument. We computed an effect size from the intergroup difference in mean outcome values at trial end, divided by the SD of the outcome value in the placebo group (0.2, small effect; 0.5, moderate; 0.8, large), and applied a correction factor to reduce bias. We tested for trial heterogeneity and publication bias and stratified for trial quality and size. We pooled effect sizes using a random effects model. DATA SYNTHESIS: Quality scores ranged from 12.3% to 55.4% of the maximum, with a mean (SD) of 35.5% (12%). Only 1 study described adequate allocation concealment and 2 reported an intent-to-treat analysis. Most were supported or performed by a manufacturer. Funnel plots showed significant asymmetry (P< or =.01) compatible with publication bias. Tests for heterogeneity were nonsignificant after removing 1 outlier trial. The aggregated effect sizes were 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.64) for glucosamine and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.60-0.95) for chondroitin, but they were diminished when only high-quality or large trials were considered. The effect sizes were relatively consistent for pain and functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Trials of glucosamine and chondroitin preparations for OA symptoms demonstrate moderate to large effects, but quality issues and likely publication bias suggest that these effects are exaggerated. Nevertheless, some degree of efficacy appears probable for these preparations.

Chondroitin↗
PubMed2000

Factors predicting response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: the importance of disease duration.

OBJECTIVE: To use individual patient data from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials to identify factors that affect the response to treatment as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for improvement (the "ACR response"). METHODS: Primary trial data from 14 diverse, randomized, controlled trials of second-line drugs or devices in RA were analyzed. The trials included 11 methotrexate (MTX) trials (5 placebo controlled and 6 comparative, of which 2 were unpublished), 1 combination trial of cyclosporine plus MTX, 1 induction trial of a combination treatment in early RA (the COBRA trial), and 1 placebo-controlled trial of a new device (Prosorba). Both patient factors and disease activity measures (primarily, items from the ACR core criteria set) were available. RESULTS: A total of 1,435 patients (549 in placebo-controlled trials, 886 in comparative trials) were studied. In both active treatment and placebo groups, disease duration had a strong effect on the likelihood of patient response (e.g., with any active treatment, the response rate was 53% for patients with < or =1 year of disease, 43% for 1-2 years' disease duration, 44% for 2-5 years, 38% for 5-10 years, and 35% for > 10 years; P = 0.001). Decreasing response with greater disease duration was seen during treatment with most of the individual active drugs, as well as with placebo. Other factors decreasing the rate of response to treatment included any prior use of a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), higher disease functional class (according to the Steinbrocker criteria), low disease activity (according to patient's global assessment), and female sex. Each ACR core set variable exhibited a diminished response to treatment in patients with long-standing disease. The difference between active treatment and placebo response rates was not affected by disease duration nor by other factors associated with the ACR response. CONCLUSION: RA patients with longer disease duration do not respond as well to treatment compared with patients with early disease, and female sex, prior DMARD use, disease functional class, and disease activity also have effects on the likelihood of patient response to treatment. This has implications for trial interpretation and for the clinical expectations of RA patients.

Antirheumatic Agents↗
PubMed2000

The association between varus-valgus alignment and patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about risk factors for patellofemoral (PF) osteoarthritis (OA). The lateral vector at the PF joint increases the likelihood of lateral PF versus medial PF pathology. Both valgus and varus malalignments affect forces at the PF joint and may predispose to PF OA. We examined whether lateral PF OA is more common than medial PF OA, whether valgus malalignment is more frequent in lateral PF OA than in medial PF OA, and whether knees with PF OA are more often valgus than knees with isolated tibiofemoral (TF) OA. METHODS: In 292 knee OA patients, we obtained semiflexed, fluoroscopy-confirmed radiographs of the TF joint and weight-bearing, 30 degrees flexion, axial views of the PF joint. Varus-valgus alignment (the angle formed by the intersection of the mechanical axes of the femur and tibia) was measured on a full-limb radiograph. RESULTS: Lateral PF OA was more common than medial PF OA (P<0.0001). Forty-three of 75 knees with lateral PF OA had valgus malalignment compared with only 5 of 21 patients with medial PF OA (P = 0.0066). Conversely, varus malalignment was more likely in the medial PF OA group. Knees with isolated PF OA were more likely to have valgus malalignment than those with isolated TF OA (P = 0.0002), as were knees with mixed PF-TF OA (P = 0.0006). CONCLUSION: Varus-valgus alignment may influence the risk of PF OA and, in particular, which compartment is affected.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Higher grip strength increases the risk of incident radiographic osteoarthritis in proximal hand joints.

Quadriceps strength may protect against knee osteoarthritis (OA), but muscle activity is a major determinant of forces at the hand joints. Gripping objects is a common task during which high muscular forces are sustained, particularly at the proximal hand joints (metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and thumb base). The association between maximal grip strength and incident OA at different hand joints was examined in a longitudinal study of radiographic hand OA. Subjects with higher maximal grip strength were at increased risk for development of OA in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, MCP and thumb base joints in men; and in the MCP in women. No association was found between maximal grip strength and incident distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints OA in men or women. The conclusion is that increased grip strength, which is the major force of loading across proximal hand joints, increases the risk of OA in those joints.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Detecting radiographic knee osteoarthritis: what combination of views is optimal?

OBJECTIVE: The failure to image the patellofemoral joint or the posterior knee compartment when evaluating persons for knee osteoarthritis may result in missed cases. While the skyline view has been recommended due to more reproducible assessment of the patellofemoral joint space, the lateral view may be easier to acquire and provides different information. We evaluated the sensitivity of different combinations of X-ray views (anteroposterior and lateral; anteroposterior and skyline; all three views) in 377 persons with knee symptoms who had all three views available and had a definite osteophyte on at least one view. RESULTS: Of the different views, skylines had to be excluded most often because the image of the patellofemoral joint was technically unsatisfactory. In the remaining knees, adding either a lateral or a skyline view to an anteroposterior view yielded roughly equal and high sensitivity (94-97%) when compared with the gold standard of a positive X-ray on any of the three views. CONCLUSION: As long as at least an anteroposterior view and one image of the patellofemoral joint is obtained (either skyline or lateral), few cases with radiographic disease will be missed. For clinical or epidemiological studies the lateral view may be easier to acquire with high quality than the skyline view.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Effect of dietary protein on bone loss in elderly men and women: the Framingham Osteoporosis Study.

Few studies have evaluated protein intake and bone loss in elders. Excess protein may be associated with negative calcium balance, whereas low protein intake has been associated with fracture. We examined the relation between baseline dietary protein and subsequent 4-year change in bone mineral density (BMD) for 391 women and 224 men from the population-based Framingham Osteoporosis Study. BMD (g/cm2) was assessed in 1988-1989 and in 1992-1993 at the femur, spine, and radius. Usual dietary protein intake was determined using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and expressed as percent of energy from protein intake. BMD loss over 4 years was regressed on percent protein intake, simultaneously adjusting for other baseline factors: age, weight, height, weight change, total energy intake, smoking, alcohol intake, caffeine, physical activity, calcium intake, and, for women, current estrogen use. Effects of animal protein on bone loss also were examined. Mean age at baseline (+/-SD) of 615 participants was 75 years (+/-4.4; range, 68-91 years). Mean protein intake was 68 g/day (+/-24.0; range, 14-175 g/day), and mean percent of energy from protein was 16% (+/-3.4; range, 7-30%). Proportional protein intakes were similar for men and women. Lower protein intake was significantly related to bone loss at femoral and spine sites (p < or = 0.04) with effects similar to 10 lb of weight. Persons in the lowest quartile of protein intake showed the greatest bone loss. Similar to the overall protein effect, lower percent animal protein also was significantly related to bone loss at femoral and spine BMD sites (all p < 0.01) but not the radial shaft (p = 0.23). Even after controlling for known confounders including weight loss, women and men with relatively lower protein intake had increased bone loss, suggesting that protein intake is important in maintaining bone or minimizing bone loss in elderly persons. Further, higher intake of animal protein does not appear to affect the skeleton adversely in this elderly population.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2000

Risk factors for longitudinal bone loss in elderly men and women: the Framingham Osteoporosis Study.

Few studies have evaluated risk factors for bone loss in elderly women and men. Thus, we examined risk factors for 4-year longitudinal change in bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip, radius, and spine in elders. Eight hundred elderly women and men from the population-based Framingham Osteoporosis Study had BMD assessed in 1988-1989 and again in 1992-1993. BMD was measured at femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's area, radial shaft, ultradistal radius, and lumbar spine using Lunar densitometers. We examined the relation of the following factors at baseline to percent BMD loss: age, weight, change in weight, height, smoking, caffeine, alcohol use, physical activity, serum 25-OH vitamin D, calcium intake, and current estrogen replacement in women. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted with simultaneous adjustment for all variables. Mean age at baseline was 74 years +/-4.5 years (range, 67-90 years). Average 4-year BMD loss for women (range, 3.4-4.8%) was greater than the loss for men (range, 0.2-3.6%) at all sites; however, BMD fell with age in both elderly women and elderly men. For women, lower baseline weight, weight loss in interim, and greater alcohol use were associated with BMD loss. Women who gained weight during the interim gained BMD or had little change in BMD. For women, current estrogen users had less bone loss than nonusers; at the femoral neck, nonusers lost up to 2.7% more BMD. For men, lower baseline weight and weight loss also were associated with BMD loss. Men who smoked cigarettes at baseline lost more BMD at the trochanter site. Surprisingly, bone loss was not affected by caffeine, physical activity, serum 25-OH vitamin D, or calcium intake. Risk factors consistently associated with bone loss in elders include female sex, thinness, and weight loss, while weight gain appears to protect against bone loss for both men and women. This population-based study suggests that current estrogen use may help to maintain bone in women, whereas current smoking was associated with bone loss in men. Even in the elderly years, potentially modifiable risk factors, such as weight, estrogen use, and cigarette smoking are important components of bone health.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Improving the selective use of plain radiographs in the initial evaluation of shoulder pain.

OBJECTIVE: In a previous retrospective study, we had found that shoulder radiographs were overused in the initial evaluation of patients presenting to the emergency department with shoulder pain. Our objective was to prospectively define clinical criteria that identify patients who have a low risk of radiographic findings that influence the management of the initial evaluation of shoulder pain in the emergency department. METHODS: All adult patients presenting to the emergency department of a university teaching hospital with shoulder pain were eligible to participate. Patients with deformities, penetrating wounds, referred pain, and those presenting for followup were excluded. Data were recorded prospectively using a standardized form. All radiographs were classified as therapeutically uninformative (TU) except fracture, acromioclavicular joint separation (> or =Grade 3), infection, or malignancy. A classification tree was used for analysis. RESULTS: Two hundred six patients had shoulder radiographs, of which 88% were TU. The model yielded 3 sets of low risk patients with a high percentage of TU radiographs: (1) no fall, no swelling (99% TU: 106 TU, 1 radiograph with lytic lesions in a cancer patient); (2) a fall, but no swelling, and no pain at rest (100% TU, n = 18); (3) a fall and pain at rest, but no swelling and normal range of motion (100% TU, n = 10). Not performing radiographs on these low risk patients would have decreased radiograph utilization from 52 to 18% of all shoulder patients seen. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that specific clinical criteria are able to identify patients who do not need radiographs as part of the initial management of shoulder pain. Prospective validation of these criteria are needed to confirm that these low risk patients can be safely evaluated without radiographs.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of back symptoms in elders.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of back pain has not been well studied in elders in the US. We describe the prevalence of back symptoms in a cohort of elderly subjects residing in the US by age, sex, examination site, and location of pain. METHODS: Data from this study are based on 1037 surviving members of the original Framingham Heart Study cohort aged 68-100 years who participated in the 22nd biennial examination in 1992-93. Subjects were questioned about back pain and timing and location of pain. RESULTS: Prevalence estimates varied, depending on the question used to assess back symptoms and the manner in which the question was asked. For example, back symptoms on most days occurred in 22.3 of 100 elders. Low back symptoms were more prevalent than those in the mid or upper back. Prevalence was higher among women than men, especially for symptoms in the mid or upper back area. Age did not affect the prevalence of back symptoms in this elderly cohort. Back symptoms were also more prevalent among subjects who were examined in their residence than among those who were examined at the examination site. Most subjects who were examined at their residence chose this location for health reasons. CONCLUSION: Back symptoms are highly prevalent in the elderly, although, among elders, they do not increase in prevalence with age. They are more common in women than men. Elders confined mostly to their homes have an especially high prevalence of back symptoms.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Bone mineral density and risk of incident and progressive radiographic knee osteoarthritis in women: the Framingham Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relations of bone mineral density (BMD) and change in BMD to risk of incident and progressive radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: Female participants aged 63 to 91 years (mean age 71) in the Framingham Study received anteroposterior weight bearing knee radiographs at biennial examinations 18 (1983-85) and 22 (1992-93). Knee radiographs were given scores for global severity of OA (Kellgren-Lawrence scale: range 0 to 4) and for the presence of osteophytes and joint space narrowing (range 0 to 3). Femoral neck BMD was assessed using dual photon absorptiometry at examination 20 and dual x-ray absorptiometry at examination 22. We examined the relations of BMD at examination 20 and its change between examination 20 and examination 22 to incident and progressive knee OA, as well as to worsening of individual radiographic features adjusting for age, body mass index, and other potential confounding factors. RESULTS: In total, 473 women (ages 63 to 91 yrs) had complete assessments. Over 8 years of followup, risk of incident radiographic knee OA increased from 5.6% among women in the lowest age-specific quartile of BMD to 14.2, 10.3, and 11.8% among women in the 2nd, 3rd, and highest quartiles, respectively. Multivariate adjusted OR of incident OA for each increase quartile of BMD were 1.0, 2.5, 2.0, and 2.3, respectively (p for trend = 0.222). This was mainly reflected in an increased risk of osteophyte development. However, risk of progressive OA decreased from 34.4 to 22.0, 20.3, and 18.9% as BMD increased. Compared to those in the lowest quartile of BMD, adjusted OR for progressive disease were 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1 among women in the 2nd, 3rd, and highest quartiles (p for trend <0.001), respectively, mainly due to its effect on lowering the risk of joint space loss. Compared to those who lost BMD >0.04 g/cm2 over the followup period, women who gained BMD were at increased risk of incident but at a significantly decreased risk of progressive knee OA. BMD change was not associated with osteophyte development, but gain in BMD lowered the risk of joint space loss. CONCLUSION: High BMD and BMD gain decreased the risk of progression of radiographic knee OA, but may be associated with an increased risk of incident knee OA. The protective effect was mainly through its influence on reducing the risk of joint space loss. Our results offer insights into how bone may affect the course of the most common joint disease, and thus may have potential therapeutic implications.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of the discordance between radiographic changes and knee pain in osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze cross sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) concerning 3 indicators of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee: radiographic evidence of structural damage, self-reported knee pain, and self-report of a diagnosis of arthritis at any joint by a physician. METHODS: Analysis of NHANES I data for 6880 persons ages 25-74 in the United States. RESULTS: Radiographic stage 2-4 knee OA was found in 319 subjects (3.7%); only 47% of these individuals reported knee pain, and only 61% reported that a physician had told them that they had arthritis. Knee pain was reported by 1004 subjects (14.6%), only 15% of whom had radiographic stage 2-4 changes of OA, and 59% of whom reported having a diagnosis of arthritis by a physician. A report of arthritis diagnosed by a physician was given by 1762 subjects (25.6%), of whom only 11% had stage 2-4 radiographic knee OA and 34% reported knee pain. CONCLUSION: Substantial discordance exists in this population based study between radiographic OA of the knee versus knee pain, versus a diagnosis of arthritis by a physician. These phenomena may be important in the design of clinical research studies, as well as in criteria for OA.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Does laxity alter the relationship between strength and physical function in knee osteoarthritis?

OBJECTIVE: Since strengthening interventions have had a lower-than-expected impact on patient function in studies of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and it is known that laxity influences muscle activity, this study examined whether the relationship between strength and function is weaker in the presence of laxity. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four patients with knee OA were studied. Knee OA was defined by the presence of definite osteophytes, and patients had to have at least a little difficulty with knee-requiring activities. Tests were performed to determine quadriceps and hamstring strength, varus-valgus laxity, functional status (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Physical Functioning subscale [WOMAC-PF] and chair-stand performance), body mass index, and pain. High and low laxity groups were defined as above and below the sample median, respectively. RESULTS: Strength and chair-stand rates correlated (r = 0.44 to 0.52), as did strength and the WOMAC-PF score (r = -0.21 to -0.36). In multivariate analyses, greater laxity was consistently associated with a weaker relationship between strength (quadriceps or hamstring) and physical functioning (chair-stand rate or WOMAC-PF score). CONCLUSION: Varus-valgus laxity is associated with a decrease in the magnitude of the relationship between strength and physical function in knee OA. In studies examining the functional and structural consequences of resistance exercise in knee OA, stratification of analyses by varus-valgus laxity should be considered. The effect of strengthening interventions in knee OA may be enhanced by consideration of the status of the passive restraint system.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Grip strength and the risk of developing radiographic hand osteoarthritis: results from the Framingham Study.

OBJECTIVE: In knees, quadriceps strength may protect against osteoarthritis (OA). Muscle activity is a major determinant of forces at the hand joints, and grip is a common task during which high muscle forces are sustained, especially at the proximal hand joints (metacarpophalangeal [MCP] joints and thumb base). This longitudinal study of radiographic hand OA examined the association between incident OA at different hand joints and maximal grip strength. METHODS: Four hand joint groups were studied: distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), MCP, and the base of the thumb (carpometacarpal and scaphotrapezial combined). Subjects were members of the Framingham OA Study who had a baseline radiograph in 1967-1969 and a followup radiograph in 1992-1993 (mean followup 24 years) and had no prevalent radiographic OA in any hand joint at baseline. Incident disease was defined as development of OA defined as a modified Kellgren/Lawrence grade of > or =2. Grip strength was measured in kilograms by dynamometer in 1958-1961 and again in 1960-1963, and the 2 measures were averaged and divided into sex-specific tertiles. Joint-based analysis was performed by adjusting for age, physical activity, and occupational category using the lowest grip strength tertile as the referent. RESULTS: Baseline and followup radiographs were obtained from 746 subjects. Of these, 453 subjects with no prevalent OA at baseline were eligible for analysis. In men, higher maximal grip strength was associated with an increased risk of OA in the PIP (highest tertile odds ratio [OR] 2.8 compared with lowest tertile, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2-6.7), MCP (highest tertile OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-7.4), and thumb base joints (highest tertile OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.4). In women, there was increased risk of OA in the MCP joints (highest tertile OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.4). CONCLUSION: Men with high maximal grip strength are at increased risk for the development of OA in the PIP, MCP, and thumb base joints, and women, in the MCP joints. No association was found between maximal grip strength and incident OA in the DIP joints of men or women.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Different factors influencing the expression of Raynaud's phenomenon in men and women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the risk profile for Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is different between men and women. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study of 800 women and 725 men participating in the Framingham Offspring Study, the association of age, marital status, smoking, alcohol use, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia with prevalent RP was examined in men and women separately, after adjusting for relevant confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of RP was 9.6% (n = 77) in women and 5.8% (n = 42) in men. In women, marital status and alcohol use were each associated with prevalent RP (for marital status adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.4-3.9; for alcohol use OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-5.2), whereas these factors were not associated with RP in men (marital status OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.6-3.5; alcohol use OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.2-4.4). In men, older age (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.2) and smoking (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6.3) were associated with prevalent RP; these factors were not associated with RP in women (older age OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.4-1.6; smoking OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.1). Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia were not associated with RP in either sex. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that risk factors for RP differ between men and women. Age and smoking were associated with RP in men only, while the associations of marital status and alcohol use with RP were observed in women only. These findings suggest that different mechanisms influence the expression of RP in men and women.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Laxity in healthy and osteoarthritic knees.

OBJECTIVE: Although it is a cause of osteoarthritis (OA) in animal models, laxity in human knee OA has been minimally evaluated. Ligaments become more compliant with age; whether this results in clinical laxity is not clear. In theory, laxity may predispose to OA and/or result from OA. Our goals were to examine the correlation of age and sex with knee laxity in control subjects without OA, compare laxity in uninvolved knees of OA patients with that in older control knees, and examine the relationship between specific features of OA and knee laxity. METHODS: We assessed varus-valgus and anteroposterior laxity in 25 young control subjects, 24 older control subjects without clinical OA, radiographic OA, or a history of knee injury, and 164 patients with knee OA as determined by the presence of definite osteophytes. A device was designed to assess varus-valgus laxity under a constant varus or valgus load while maintaining a fixed knee flexion angle and thigh and ankle immobilization. Radiographic evaluations utilized protocols addressing position, beam alignment, magnification, and landmark definition; the semiflexed position was used, with fluoroscopic confirmation. RESULTS: In the controls, women had greater varus-valgus laxity than did men (3.6 degrees versus 2.7 degrees; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] of difference 0.38, 1.56; P = 0.004), and laxity correlated modestly with age (r = 0.29, P = 0.04). Varus-valgus laxity was greater in the uninvolved knees of OA patients than in older control knees (4.9 degrees versus 3.4 degrees; 95% CI of difference 0.60, 2.24; P = 0.0006). In OA patients, varus-valgus laxity increased as joint space decreased (slope -0.34; 95% CI -0.48, -0.19; P < 0.0001) and was greater in knees with than in knees without bony attrition (5.3 degrees versus 4.5 degrees; 95% CI of difference 0.32, 1.27; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Greater varus-valgus laxity in the uninvolved knees of OA patients versus older control knees and an age-related increase in varus-valgus laxity support the concept that some portion of the increased laxity of OA may predate disease. Loss of cartilage/bone height is associated with greater varus-valgus laxity. These results raise the possibility that varus-valgus laxity may increase the risk of knee OA and cyclically contribute to progression.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

The role of vitamin D in corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis: a meta-analytic approach.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if vitamin D is more effective than no therapy or calcium alone in the management of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis, and to determine how vitamin D compares with other osteoporosis therapies, e.g., bisphosphonates, calcitonin, or fluoride, for this condition. METHODS: We evaluated all formulations of vitamin D, including its active metabolites and analogs. A systematic search for published and unpublished studies was conducted using MEDLINE (1966-December 1997), bibliographic references, abstracts from proceedings of recent national meetings, and contact with pharmaceutical companies and content experts. We included all randomized controlled trials lasting at least 6 months (and reporting extractable results), of patients receiving oral corticosteroids, that compared vitamin D with either 1) no therapy or calcium alone, or 2) bisphosphonates, calcitonin, or fluoride. The primary outcome measure of interest was change in lumbar spine bone mineral density. RESULTS: We found a moderate beneficial effect of vitamin D plus calcium versus no therapy or calcium alone (9 trials) (effect size 0.60; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.34, 0.85; P < 0.0001). In comparisons of vitamin D with other osteoporosis therapies, bisphosphonates were more effective than vitamin D (6 trials) (effect size 0.57; 95% CI 0.09, 1.05). Calcitonin was similar in efficacy to vitamin D (4 trials) (effect size 0.03; 95% CI -0.39, 0.45). Fluoride was more effective than vitamin D, but there were only 2 trials. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D plus calcium is superior to no therapy or calcium alone in the management of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. Vitamin D is less effective than some osteoporosis therapies. Therefore, treatment with vitamin D plus calcium, as a minimum, should be recommended to patients receiving long-term corticosteroids.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗