Association between osteoarthritis of the hand and knee in a population of skeletons from London.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between osteoarthritis of the hand and knee in a group of skeletons dating to the 18th and early 19th centuries from two sites in London.


METHODS
This was a case-control study of 115 cases and controls matched for age and sex. Cases were skeletons with osteoarthritis of the hands; cases and controls were assessed for the presence of osteoarthritis of any compartment of the knee.


RESULTS
Cases had a significant odds ratio (OR) for osteoarthritis of the knee compared with controls: OR 5.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25 to 56.37. Cases with osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and first carpometacarpal (CMC1) joints had increased but non-significant odds ratios for osteoarthritis of the knee in the order DIP > PIP > CMC1. Cases with multifocal osteoarthritis of the hands had a significantly increased odds ratio for osteoarthritis of the knee: OR 11.67, 95% CI 1.13 to 379.57.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms the association between osteoarthritis of the hand and the knee seen in contemporary populations and suggests that it is not of very recent origin.
Waldron
H A
HA
St Mary's Hospital, London.
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology