Radiographic hand osteoarthritis in two ethnic groups living in the same geographic area

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of radiographic hand osteoarthritis (OA) and its association with age, sex, body mass index in two ethnic groups, Russian and Buryats who reside in the same geographic area. It was a cross-sectional observational study. The study population comprised ethnic Russians (N = 572) and Buryats (N = 327) from the Barguzinsky District of the Buryat Republic, Russian Federation. OA was evaluated in 14 joints of the left hand according to Kellgren and Lawrence's grading system. A diagnosis of OA was determined by the number of affected joints and by the presence of at least one affected joint. Statistical analyses included prevalence estimation, linear and logistic regressions, and chi(2) tests. Our major finding was that individuals of different ethnic groups, residing in the same location, have similar prevalence and severity of radiographic hand OA. Considering the results of our previous study, where we found significant differences in the prevalence and severity of hand OA between the Russian samples (same ethnicity) with diverse places of residence, we conclude that environmental factors play an important role in the development of hand OA.

Association Between Race and Radiographic, Symptomatic, and Clinical Hand Osteoarthritis: A Propensity Score–Matched Study Using Osteoarthritis Initiative Data

“…However, the higher prevalence of other OA subtypes (knee and hip OA) in Black subjects and the descriptive methodology used in both of these studies (limiting the opportunity to adjust for the effects of other potential risk factors) made it unclear whether the reported associations were confounded by other variables. Moreover, the observation that there was similar prevalence and severity of hand OA between Russian and Buryat populations living in the same area (8) and no statistically significant difference in terms of the prevalence of symptomatic hand OA between Black and non-Black subjects in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (9) suggests that environmental factors are most likely more important for the development of hand OA than racial differences. The aim of this comparative analysis was to reassess this question and evaluate the effects of race on radiographic and symptomatic hand OA in a US population, since the effects of other hand OA risk factors are well-balanced.…”

“…Previous studies demonstrated that Black subjects experience an increased prevalence and higher severity of radiographic and symptomatic knee and hip OA, and hereditary, environmental, and biomechanical factors have been suggested as possible explanations for this difference (7). However, there is little evidence supporting a potential association between race and hand OA; no difference in the prevalence of symptomatic hand OA was found between Black and non-Black subjects in cross-sectional surveys or between Russian and Buryat populations living in the same area (8,9).…”