Osteoarthritis-affected joints 'can increase a person's fall risk'

A new US study has shown that a person's risk of falling increases in correlation to the number of osteoarthritis-affected joints they have.

Led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the research utilised a cohort of men and women to examine the influence of lower-extremity osteoarthritis burden on the risk for future falls, with a particular focus on whether the effect is cumulative.

Knee and hip osteoarthritis are known to be risk factors for falls, but whether they together additionally contribute to this was previously unknown.

Variables assessed included age, sex, race, body mass index, a history of prior falls, symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee, a history of neurologic or pulmonary diseases, and current use of medication.

According to results published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, the odds of falling increased with a greater number of lower-extremity symptomatic osteoarthritis joints. Those with one joint had 53 per cent higher odds, rising to 74 per cent with two joints and 85 per cent for people with three or four affected joints.

It was also shown that, when controlling for covariates, patients who had symptomatic knee or hip osteoarthritis had an increased likelihood of falling.

The researchers concluded: "This study reveals the risk for falls increases with additional symptomatic osteoarthritis lower-extremity joints and confirms that symptomatic hip and knee osteoarthritis are important risk factors for falls."

A spokesman for Arthritis Research UK said that osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis were all linked to falls in older people.

"Our musculoskeletal ageing centres are investigating ways in which older people can increase their muscle mass and overall strength to reduce the risk of falls and injury, as falling is a real issue. Exercise and good patient information are essential to counter the risk of falling in this age group," he added.

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