title: Does subclinical inflammation contribute to impairment of function of knee joints in aged individuals? High prevalence of ultrasound inflammatory findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of knee US findings of inflammation and structural damage in aged individuals (≥60 years) of a long-term population-based cohort and to correlate these findings with demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional clinical and US investigation of both knee joints during the 2010 follow-up of the prospective population-based Bruneck Study. Demographic variables, physical activity, comorbidities, medications, pain, and functional scales related to the knee joints were recorded. US-assessed parameters were synovial hypertrophy, power Doppler signal, joint effusion, cartilage abnormalities, osteophytes, enthesopathy and bursitis. Statistics included univariate and multivariate regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 488 subjects (mean age 72.5 years; 53.5% females, 46.5% males) were examined by clinical assessment, and 433 of these underwent US examination of both knees. Both inflammatory and structural abnormalities were found in 296 (68.8%) subjects. Inflammatory abnormalities were significantly associated with age in years, male gender, diabetes and the presence of knee joint symptoms. In the multivariate analysis, age, male gender and knee swelling emerged as independent predictors of inflammation [odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) = 1.06 (1.03, 1.09), 2.55 (1.55, 4.21) and 5.92 (1.99, 17.58), respectively].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed a high prevalence of US inflammatory abnormalities in the knee joints of a normal aged population. These data suggest a substantial contribution of inflammation in progressive impairment of joint function with age.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, APHP, UPRES EA 2506, Université Versailles St-Quentin, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
authors: Maria Antonietta
authors: MA
authors: D'Agostino
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, Annamaria.Iagnocco@uniroma1.it.
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Iagnocco
authors: Department of Public Health and Biostatistics, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, APHP, UPRES EA 2506, Université Versailles St-Quentin, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Aegerter
authors: Department of Internal Medicine 3, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Arndt
authors: A
authors: Kleyer
authors: Department of Internal Medicine 3, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at the Hanusch Hospital of WGKK and AUVA Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Jochen
authors: J
authors: Zwerina
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Perricone
authors: Departments of Radiology and Internal Medicine, Bruneck Hospital, Bruneck, Italy and.
authors: Rolando
authors: R
authors: Lorenzini
authors: Departments of Radiology and Internal Medicine, Bruneck Hospital, Bruneck, Italy and.
authors: Franz
authors: F
authors: Aschenbrenner
authors: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Johann
authors: J
authors: Willeit
authors: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Kiechl
authors: Department of Internal Medicine 3, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Schett
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D002062:Bursitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054850:Osteophyte / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
keywords: age; arthritis; diabetes; imaging; subclinical disease; ultrasound