Associations of Osteoarthritis with Prevalence and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease over 10 Years in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study

Gerontology. 2024;70(4):351-360. doi: 10.1159/000537721. Epub 2024 Feb 8.

Abstract

Introduction: The data are limited for the association between osteoarthritis (OA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in community-based older populations and whether there is sex difference. This study aimed to examine the relationship between OA and prevalence and incidence of CVD over 10 years in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Data on self-reported OA, high cholesterol, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes were collected from 1,025 community-dwelling participants aged 70-90 years in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. The presence of CVD at baseline was defined as self-reported presence of stroke, heart attack, transient ischaemic attack, angina, aortic aneurysm, or claudication. The incidence of CVD was defined by a combination of incident self-reported CVD or CVD mortality at different follow-up timepoints over 10 years.

Results: At baseline, 395 (38.5%) participants self-reported OA (252 [44.6%] women, 143 [31.1%] men). Self-reported OA was associated with increased prevalence of CVD in women (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.12-2.47) but not men (1.26, 0.80-1.98). In the total population, self-reported OA at baseline was associated with increased incidence of CVD at 4 years (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.10-2.83), 6 years (1.59, 1.03-2.46), 8 years (1.56, 1.02-2.38), and 10 years (1.66, 1.10-2.50), but not at 2 years (1.43, 0.79-2.57). Significant associations were observed in female participants at 4, 8, and 10 years, with no significant associations seen in male participants.

Conclusion: OA was associated with increased prevalence at baseline and incidence of CVD over 10 years in community-based older adults, especially women. Identifying those with OA to target their cardiovascular risk factors while managing their OA has the potential to reduce the burden of CVD in older people, particularly women.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular risk factors; Older adults; Osteoarthritis; Women.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / complications
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Independent Living
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis* / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors

Grants and funding

The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) Program Grant (Grant ID 350833) and a Capacity Building Grant (Grant ID 568940). M.Z. is the recipient of Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS). FMC is the recipient of NHMRC Investigator Grant (APP1194829). Y.Z.L. is the recipient of NHMRC Clinical Postgraduate Scholarship (APP1133903) and Royal Australasian College of Physicians Woolcock Scholarship. P.S.S. is the recipient of NHMRC Investigator Grant (APP1196150). The funder of the study had no role in the study design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.