Co-morbidity and cardio-metabolic risk factors in patients with osteoarthrosis
Aim. To study co-morbidity prevalence, as well as metabolic effects on atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular risk, in patients with osteoarthrosis (OA). Material and methods. In total, 83 patients with confirmed OA diagnosis (American College of Rheumatology criteria). The age of participants was 45-70 years (mean age 58,35+12,5 years), and OA duration was 1-24 years (mean duration 9,8+4,7 years). The examination included pain syndrome assessment with visual analog scale (VAS), calculation of WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) index and body mass index (BMI), measurement of waist and hip circumference (WC, HC) and WC/HC ratio. Joint ultrasound examination (Phillips HD-11) was used to assess periarticular tissue status and visualise articular cartilage and bone surfaces. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by immune-enzyme method. Results. Obesity was diagnosed in 51 OA patients (67,64%). These participants demonstrated higher synovitis prevalence, higher values of algo-functional indices, and elevated IL-6 and CRP levels, as well as higher frequency of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events in anamnesis. Conclusion. In OA patients, obesity was more prevalent. Compared to those with BMI<30 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, obese individuals with OA showed higher levels of triglycerides and CRP, lower concentration of high-density lipoproteins, and higher prevalence of Caro index <0,33 (insulin resistance marker). Therefore, the combination of OA and obesity was characterised by clustering of cardiovascular risk factors.