Premature or low-weight birth 'linked to higher osteoarthritis risk in later life'

A new study has indicated that babies born prematurely or at a low weight may be at an elevated risk of having to undergo surgical treatment for osteoarthritis in later life.

Carried out by Monash University and Alfred Hospital in Australia, the study aimed to examine whether low birth weight and preterm birth were associated with a higher incidence of knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis during adulthood.

It is known that underweight or premature babies often experience adverse adult outcomes including hypertension, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease and reduced bone mass, but it is currently unknown whether any link to osteoarthritis risk exists.

For this research, a total of 3,604 participants from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study were analysed in terms of their birth weight and health, as well as their arthroplasty status from the age of 40 onwards.

According to results published in the medical journal Arthritis Care & Research, 116 participants underwent knee arthroplasty and 75 underwent hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. Low birth weight and preterm birth were both associated with increased incidence of hip replacement, but not for knee surgery.

These trends were shown to be independent of a number of potential influencing factors, including age, sex, body mass index, education level, hypertension, diabetes status, smoking habits and physical activity.

The researchers concluded: "Although these findings will need to be confirmed, they suggest that individuals born with low birth weight or at preterm are at increased risk of hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis in adult life. The underlying mechanisms warrant further investigation."

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