Targeting allergies to better prevent or treat osteoarthritis?

Having allergic asthma or eczema could increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis, according to a new U.S. study published in the British Medical Journal 's Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases . To come to this conclusion, the researchers consulted a U.S. national insurance database (Optum CDM) between January 2003 and June 2019. They then examined the incidence of osteoarthritis in 109,899 patients with atopic diseases, such as asthma and eczema, compared to an equal number of people without these diseases. Read: Low levels of joint protein may trigger gout crystal formation The researchers found the risk of developing osteoarthritis was 58% higher in people with atopic diseases over an eight-year period. In addition, people with both allergic asthma and eczema were twice as likely to develop osteoarthritis compared to people without atopic diseases. In addition, people with allergic asthma were 83% more at risk of developing osteoarthritis than those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The results were then reproduced in a dataset from the Stanford Research Repository, dating from January 2010 to December 2020—to see if similar results would arise. This database includes 114,427 patients, including 43,728 suffering from allergic asthma or eczema, and 70,699 who have no history of atopic diseases. It also includes participants' body mass index (BMI). Read: 5 Tips: Optimizing methotrexate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis The researchers adjusted the results according to BMI and concluded that the risk of developing osteoarthritis is 42% higher in people with allergic asthma or eczema. “This study demonstrates an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in patients with atopic diseases. Future interventional studies could consider targeting allergies for the prevention or treatment of osteoarthritis,” the researchers concluded. This article has been translated from its original French and first appeared on our sister site Profession Santé.

Targeting allergies to better prevent or treat osteoarthritis?

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