title: Increased arterial stiffness in patients with end-stage osteoarthritis: a case-control study.
abstract: Both osteoarthritis (OA) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are prevalent conditions which often co-exist. Vascular involvement in the pathogenesis of these diseases, as well as increased cardiovascular risk in OA patients give occasion to investigate arterial stiffness in OA. The aim of this study was to establish associations between OA and arterial stiffness.
  
  
  
  The characteristics of arterial stiffness were measured with Sphygmocor and HDI devices in 48 patients (age 63 ± 7 years (mean ± SD)) with end-stage OA awaiting knee and hip replacement and in 49 age and gender matched controls (61 ± 7 years). Independent Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare means between the groups. Correlation between variables was determined using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  
  Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (car-fem PWV) was increased in the patients with OA compared to the controls (9.6 ± 2.4 and 8.4 ± 1.9 m/s, p = 0.015 respectively). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and white blood cells count were significantly higher in the OA patients compared with the controls (1.80 ± 1.10 and 1.48 ± 1.32 mg/l, p = 0.042; 6.5 ± 1.5 and 5.6 ± 1.9 10(9)/l, p = 0.001 respectively). In multiple regression analysis age (p < 0.001), mean arterial blood pressure (p = <0.001) and OA status (p = 0.029) were found to be independent predictors of car-fem PWV.
  
  
  
  This study showed that patients with OA had increased aortic stiffness compared to non-OA controls. The potential link between arterial stiffening and OA suggests that vascular alterations are involved in OA pathogenesis and could be responsible for increased cardiovascular risk in end-stage OA patients.
authors: Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, University of Tartu, Puusepa street 8, Tartu, Estonia. kaspar.tootsi@kliinikum.ee.
authors: Kaspar
authors: 0000-0003-2151-9031
authors: K
authors: Tootsi
authors: Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, University of Tartu, Puusepa street 8, Tartu, Estonia.|Clinic of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Aare
authors: A
authors: Märtson
authors: Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Mihkel
authors: M
authors: Zilmer
authors: Department of Vascular Surgery, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Kaido
authors: K
authors: Paapstel
authors: Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.|Department of Vascular Surgery, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.|Department of Surgery, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Jaak
authors: J
authors: Kals
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Cardiovascular risk; Inflammation; Osteoarthritis; Pulse wave velocity