Osteoarthritis Is Linked to Increased Parkinson Disease Risk

Osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson disease (PD), according to the results of a recent study.¹

The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from Taiwan’s Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005, including 33,360 patients aged 50 to 64 years with OA and 33,360 age- and sex-matched individuals without OA.

Overall, the researchers observed a significantly higher risk of developing PD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.41, 95% CI 1.16-1.70) among the patients with OA compared with the patients.

A subgroup analysis found that patients with knee or hip OA seemed to have a higher risk of P (aHR 1.55, 95% CI 1.14–2.11) than did patients with other forms of OA (aHR 1.42, 95% CI 1.06–1.89) or uncategorized OA (aHR 1.32, 95% CI 1.05–1.64).

"Coexisting osteoarthritis and Parkinson's disease can additively increase the risk of falling. Moreover, osteoarthritis-related mobility impairments may mask early motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease," the authors said in a press release. "Health professionals need to be alert to the potential link between these two diseases."²

—Michael Potts

References:

1. Feng S, Chuang H, Yeh K, Pan S. Osteoarthritis is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease: A population-based, longitudinal follow-up study. Published online June 8, 2021. Arthritis Care Res. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24708
2. Osteoarthritis linked to higher Parkinson's disease risk. News release. Wiley; June 9, 2021. Accessed June 9, 2021. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/w-olt060721.php