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Ann Rheum Dis 1997;56:116-118 doi:10.1136/ard.56.2.116
  • Concise reports

Association between osteoarthritis of the hand and knee in a population of skeletons from London

  1. H A Waldron
  1. St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY; Institute of Archaeology, University College London, London WC1H 0PY, United Kingdom
  1. Dr H A Waldron, 31 Maidstone Road, London N11 2TR.
  • Accepted 7 November 1996

Abstract

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.

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