Vascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) and atherosclerosis (AS) are both chronic, complex conditions that share common risk factors and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. There is also evidence suggesting that AS contributes to the initiation or progression of OA. In this context, the associ...

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Main Authors: Yakup Erden, Mustafa Sağlam, Mustafa Hüseyin Temel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08774-x
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author Yakup Erden
Mustafa Sağlam
Mustafa Hüseyin Temel
author_facet Yakup Erden
Mustafa Sağlam
Mustafa Hüseyin Temel
author_sort Yakup Erden
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) and atherosclerosis (AS) are both chronic, complex conditions that share common risk factors and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. There is also evidence suggesting that AS contributes to the initiation or progression of OA. In this context, the association between the severity of hand and knee OA and AS was analyzed. Materials and methods A total of 218 patients (174 females and 44 males) aged ≥ 40 years were included in the study. The assessment involved measuring aortic knob width (AKW) and grading aortic arch calcification (AAC) on chest X-rays to determine the severity of AS. The Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) scoring system was employed to evaluate the severity of knee and hand OA. Hand OA severity was determined by calculating the total K/L scores for 15 joints across both hands, while knee OA severity was assessed by summing the K/L scores of both knees. Results A significant positive relationship was identified between AKW and both hand and knee OA, as well as between AAC and hand OA. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that increased AKW was independently associated with greater radiographic severity of both hand and knee OA (p =.041 and p =.002, respectively). AAC was not significantly associated with OA severity in either joint. Conclusion This study highlights a novel relationship between vascular markers, specifically AKW, and OA severity, suggesting possible shared risk factors or mechanisms between cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases. While AKW may reflect an association with OA severity and underlying AS, further longitudinal studies are necessary to explore causality and confirm these findings.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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spelling doaj-art-ec2788cc9763475ea19c143dbff4617b2025-08-20T03:16:52ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742025-05-012611910.1186/s12891-025-08774-xVascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritisYakup Erden0Mustafa Sağlam1Mustafa Hüseyin Temel2Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, İzzet Baysal Physical Treatment and Rehabilitation Training and Research HospitalClinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, İzzet Baysal Physical Treatment and Rehabilitation Training and Research HospitalClinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Univeristy of Health Sciences Sultan 2. Abdulhamid Han Training and Research HospitalAbstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) and atherosclerosis (AS) are both chronic, complex conditions that share common risk factors and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. There is also evidence suggesting that AS contributes to the initiation or progression of OA. In this context, the association between the severity of hand and knee OA and AS was analyzed. Materials and methods A total of 218 patients (174 females and 44 males) aged ≥ 40 years were included in the study. The assessment involved measuring aortic knob width (AKW) and grading aortic arch calcification (AAC) on chest X-rays to determine the severity of AS. The Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) scoring system was employed to evaluate the severity of knee and hand OA. Hand OA severity was determined by calculating the total K/L scores for 15 joints across both hands, while knee OA severity was assessed by summing the K/L scores of both knees. Results A significant positive relationship was identified between AKW and both hand and knee OA, as well as between AAC and hand OA. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that increased AKW was independently associated with greater radiographic severity of both hand and knee OA (p =.041 and p =.002, respectively). AAC was not significantly associated with OA severity in either joint. Conclusion This study highlights a novel relationship between vascular markers, specifically AKW, and OA severity, suggesting possible shared risk factors or mechanisms between cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases. While AKW may reflect an association with OA severity and underlying AS, further longitudinal studies are necessary to explore causality and confirm these findings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08774-xHand osteoarthritisKnee osteoarthritisAtherosclerosisAortic knob widthAortic arch calcification
spellingShingle Yakup Erden
Mustafa Sağlam
Mustafa Hüseyin Temel
Vascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Hand osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis
Atherosclerosis
Aortic knob width
Aortic arch calcification
title Vascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis
title_full Vascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis
title_fullStr Vascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis
title_full_unstemmed Vascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis
title_short Vascular clues in joint degeneration: a cross-sectional study on the association between aortic knob width, aortic arch calcification, and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis
title_sort vascular clues in joint degeneration a cross sectional study on the association between aortic knob width aortic arch calcification and the severity of hand and knee osteoarthritis
topic Hand osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis
Atherosclerosis
Aortic knob width
Aortic arch calcification
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08774-x
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