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Article Date: 30 Nov 2007 - 2:00 PST
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is a growing problem that will continue
to increase as the population ages. Previous studies have reported on
risk factors for developing OA, but few have examined the factors that
might predict its prognosis. A new study published in the December issue
of
Arthritis Care & Research examined patients with hip pain to
determine their disease progression and to find out how many underwent
total hip replacement (THR) over the course of several years.
Led by Sita M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra and Annet M. Lievense of Erasmus
Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the study included 227
patients who visited their general practitioners in 1996 because of hip
pain. Patients were questioned about the severity of their hip pain and
their general health, underwent a physical exam, had X-rays of the
pelvic area and sonograms of the hip area. Three years later, the same
patients underwent follow-up, during which they were interviewed in
person about the progression of their hip pain and whether or not they
received a THR. In addition, their OA was assessed using the WOMAC
Osteoarthritis Index. After another three years, a comparable follow-up
was carried out using a survey that was mailed to the patients.
The results showed that after three years, 12 percent of the patients
underwent a THR because of severe pain and/or disability due to hip OA.
After six years, this number increased to 36 percent. In addition,
another 3 percent to 5 percent had severe pain or disability due to the
condition. Being at least 60 years old, morning stiffness, pain in the
groin, restricted extension and painful rotation of the hip joint were
all associated with an increased risk for undergoing THR.
The researchers note that while an earlier analysis of their data did
not indicate an association between age and progression of hip pain, the
current study did find the two were connected. "The difference might be
attributed to selection for surgery: if a patient is relatively young,
physicians tend to postpone surgery to avoid the risk of re-surgery
after 10-20 years," the authors point out. Earlier studies reported a
connection between baseline hip pain and progression of OA, but the
current study did not find this to be the case. The authors suggest this
may be because all of the patients in their study already had hip pain.
Also, obese patients tended to have a decreased risk of THR after three
years, which may be attributable to the fact that these patients are
typically advised to lose weight before undergoing the surgery.
"With information obtained from history taking, physical examination,
and radiology, we are now better able to identify persons who are at
high risk for progression of hip OA," the authors conclude. "This can be
helpful not only to inform patients more precisely about the course of
their hip pain, but also for future clinical trials."
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