title: Osteoarthritis: new insights. Part 1: the disease and its risk factors.
abstract: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people in the United States. It is a complex disease whose etiology bridges biomechanics and biochemistry. Evidence is growing for the role of systemic factors (such as genetics, dietary intake, estrogen use, and bone density) and of local biomechanical factors (such as muscle weakness, obesity, and joint laxity). These risk factors are particularly important in weight-bearing joints, and modifying them may present opportunities for prevention of osteoarthritis-related pain and disability. Major advances in management to reduce pain and disability are yielding a panoply of available treatments ranging from nutriceuticals to chondrocyte transplantation, new oral anti-inflammatory medications, and health education. This article is part 1 of a two-part summary of a National Institutes of Health conference. The conference brought together experts on osteoarthritis from diverse backgrounds and provided a multidisciplinary and comprehensive summary of recent advances in the prevention of osteoarthritis onset, progression, and disability. Part 1 focuses on a new understanding of what osteoarthritis is and on risk factors that predispose to disease occurrence. It concludes with a discussion of the impact of osteoarthritis on disability.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Room A203, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Felson
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dieppe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Helmick
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kington
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nevitt
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sowers
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McAlindon
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Yanovski
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ateshian
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Buckwalter
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fries
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology