Patterns of joint distribution in hand osteoarthritis: Contribution of age, sex, and handedness

Abstract

The most frequent site of osteoarthritis (OA) is the hands, but the pattern of hand OA development remains controversial. Understanding these patterns may assist in evaluating biological aging, determining etiology, and proposing ways of preventing hand OA. We investigated the pattern distribution of OA in hands and the influences of age, sex, and handedness on its development. The study population was comprised of Chuvashians (660 males age 18-89 years and 585 females age 18-90 years). OA development was evaluated for 15 joints of each hand according to the Kellgren and Lawrence grading scheme. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation, cluster analysis, MANCOVA, and linear and polynomial regression. OA changes first appeared in subjects <30 years of age. Metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints underwent the first OA changes until the sixth decade, when the row of distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints became most affected. Cluster analysis showed that symmetry was the most common pattern of interrelationship between rows of joints. The best-fitting and most parsimonious model of age-related pattern of hand OA was the polynomial two-interval linear model. It showed a higher rate of OA development during the relatively young ages, 32-34 years than later on. We found statistically significant differences between sexes only for the DIP (P = 0.019) and PIP (P = 0.011) rows of joints. Handedness had no influence on hand OA development.

Osteoarthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint

“…37 However, other investigators failed to reveal any prevalence of OA in the dominant hand. 14,15,38,39 For the DIP joint in particular, patients with unilateral DIP joint OA did demonstrate a preference for their dominant hand. 13 The anatomy and structure of a joint has an intimate relationship with the mechanical stresses and kinematics that affect it.…”

“…However, gender differences were significant only in the DIP joints among individuals aged 50 to 65. 15,19,21,34 Ethnicity is a contributing intrinsic factor of DIP joint OA, as differences in the occurrence and severity of DIP joint OA vary among different populations. For example, prevalence of DIP joint OA is much lower in Chinese subjects than in white subjects.…”

Radiographic hand osteoarthritis and serum levels of osteocalcin: cross-sectional study

“…First, OA changes appears before age 30 [25]; and after age 65, 89.29% of males and 97.6% of females in Chuvashian population had at least one aVected joint [20]. In a sub-sample used in this study, 52.04% of study participants had a least one joint with OA (K-L¸2).…”

Hand osteoarthritis – an increasing need for treatment and rehabilitation

“…Results from previous studies are, however, conflicting [28,29]. Two recent studies showed some preference for osteoarthritis in the DIP or proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the dominant or right hand [9 ,30] while another did not [31].…”