People with atopic conditions are more likely to develop osteoarthritis (OA). These are the findings of a study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD). Find out the details.
The study was based on information from the American insurance database (Optum CDM), as well as medical records collected at the Stanford Research Repository. The experimental group and the control group were divided. The first group consisted of patients diagnosed with an atopic disease (in particular, allergic asthma or eczema), and the second group consisted of “healthy” people who were not diagnosed with the above diseases. Both populations were compared in terms of factors such as:
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age,
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sex,
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ethnicity,
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the level of education,
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medical history,
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frequency of outpatient visits.
Asthma and eczema increase the risk of arthritis
It turned out that the risk of developing osteoarthritis is higher in patients with eczema or allergic asthma. The likelihood of developing the disease was on average twice as high (compared to the control group).
Where do these dependencies come from? The researchers suggest that mast cells (or so-called mast cells) involved in allergic reactions may also play a very important role in the course of OA.
How to recognize osteoarthritis (OA)?
One of the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis is pain. Initially, this only happens when moving. However, over time it becomes more severe and prevents the patient from functioning “normally” in daily life. These diseases are often accompanied attachment, edema And joint instability. A patient with OA has trouble walking and maintaining balance.
In the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, physical, laboratory and imaging studies (X-rays) are primarily used. Only a combination of these methods gives the specialist a complete picture of the patient’s situation. A significant role in the diagnosis of joint degeneration is also played by the collection of anamnesis (gathering information about the difficulties and health problems that a given person is struggling with).
If you notice any of the above symptoms, do not hesitate and contact your GP, who will refer you to a rheumatologist. Timely treatment gives a better chance of restoring full mobility of pathologically altered joints and a significant improvement in the overall quality of life.
Sources:
- Klymyuk P., Kurylyshyn-Moskal A., Osteoarthritis, Rheumatology 2012, 50 (2), pp. 162–165
- www.medicxpress.com
Source: Wprost
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