Association between hyperuricaemia and hand osteoarthritis: data from the Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study

Zhu, Yanqiu; Li, Jiatian; Zhang, Yuqing; Zhang, Weiya; Doherty, Michael; Yang, Zidan; Cui, Yang; Zeng, Chao; Lei, Guanghua; Yang, Tuo; Wei, Jie

Abstract

Objective
The pathogenesis of hand osteoarthritis (OA) remains unknown. Hyperuricaemia, which is related to inflammation, may play a role in hand OA, but evidence is lacking. In a large population-based study, we examined the association between hyperuricaemia and hand OA.

Methods
Participants were from the Xiangya OA Study, a community-based observational study. Hyperuricaemia was defined as serum urate >416 µmol/L in men and >357 µmol/L in women. Radiographic hand OA (RHOA) was defined as presence of the modified Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥2 in any hand joint. Symptomatic hand OA (SHOA) was defined as presence of both self-reported symptoms and RHOA in the same hand. The associations of hyperuricaemia with RHOA or SHOA were examined using generalised estimating equations.

Results
Among 3628 participants, the prevalence of RHOA was higher in participants with hyperuricaemia than those with normouricaemia (26.9% vs 20.9%), with an adjusted OR (aOR) of 1.34 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.61). The associations were consistent in men (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.74) and women (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.74). Hyperuricaemia was mainly associated with bilateral RHOA (aOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.01) but not unilateral RHOA (aOR 1.13, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.45). Prevalence of SHOA was higher, although statistically insignificant, in participants with hyperuricaemia (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.07).

Conclusion
In this population-based study, hyperuricaemia was associated with a higher prevalence of hand OA. Future prospective studies are required to investigate the temporal relationship.

Citation

Zhu, Y., Li, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, W., Doherty, M., Yang, Z., Cui, Y., Zeng, C., Lei, G., Yang, T., & Wei, J. (2023). Association between hyperuricaemia and hand osteoarthritis: data from the Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study. RMD Open, 9(4), Article e003683. https://doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003683

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 13, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 1, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-12
• Deposit Date: Jan 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 10, 2024
• Journal: RMD Open
• Electronic ISSN: 2056-5933
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: e003683
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003683
• Keywords: Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, epidemiology, Hand, Humans, Hyperuricemia, Prospective Studies, Female, Male, Hand Joints
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/28701388
• Publisher URL: https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/9/4/e003683
• PMID: 38053456