title: Increased risk for radiographic osteoarthritis features in young active athletes: a cross-sectional matched case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prevalence data on radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) in young active athletes is sparse. Aim was to assess in a matched case-control design the frequency of ROA in an athlete population and whether athlete status, gender, previous anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery and age increase the odds for ROA.
  
  
  METHODS
  135 consecutive athletes (82% soccer players) 18-36 years old and 550 non-athletes aged-matched controls had knee radiography (Lyon-Schuss protocol) for assessment of subacute or chronic knee complaints. Patients with acute trauma or fractures were excluded. Radiographs were graded according to the Kellgren-Lawrence and OARSI grading schemes. In addition, medial and lateral intercondylar notch osteophytes were scored. We used logistic regression model to assess the association of ROA and specific radiographic OA features with athlete status, prior ACL surgery, gender and age, adjusting for each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  19.4% of patients were 18-22 years old, 26.4% were 23-27, 22.6% were 28-32, and 31.5% were 33-36 years old. 18.7% were female and 8.8% had previous ACL surgery. 8.5% had ROA and 6.0% had evidence of JSN. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for ROA were 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.4, 5.5) for athletes, 7.0 (3.5, 13.9) for previous ACL surgery and 3.3 (1.2, 9.0) for age range 32-36. Athlete status significantly increased odds for tibiofemoral osteophytes [aOR 2.9 (1.6, 5.4)] and comparably for notch osteophytes [aOR 2.3 (1.1, 4.7)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Athlete status, higher age and previous ACL surgery increase the risk of ROA with surgery being the strongest risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Aspetar, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar; Quantitative Imaging Center (QIC), Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: frank.roemer@aspetar.com.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.affiliation: Quantitative Imaging Center (QIC), Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarraya
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology and Training Unit, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Quantitative Imaging Center (QIC), Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: J-R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frobell
authors.affiliation: Aspetar, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar; Quantitative Imaging Center (QIC), Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guermazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Athletes; Football; Osteoarthritis; Radiography; Risk factors; Sports