Evaluation of relation between cardiovascular risk factors and osteoarthritis: Results of a cross-sectional Study

Background: The present study conducted to evaluate the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with osteoarthritis compared to those without osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university-affiliated hospital in 2017. Using the convenience sampling method, 100 patients based on their symptoms, physical examination and radiographic findings were selected for the osteoarthritis group, and 100 persons with muscular disease or fracture for the control group. Frequency rates of gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, body mass index, metabolic syndrome and waist circumference were evaluated. Results: Frequency rates of female gender, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in the osteoarthritis group compared to the group without osteoarthritis (P<0.05). The mean of waist circumference in the osteoarthritis group  was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was a significant relationship between osteoarthritis and female gender (OR=2.45, P=0.006), metabolic syndrome (OR=1.85, P=0.03), hypercholesterolemia (OR=1.77, P=0.04), waist circumference (OR=1.3, P=0.025) and smoking (OR=0.35, P=0.014). The associations of metabolic syndrome, hypercholesterolemia and waist circumference with osteoarthritis remained significant after adjusting with sex. Conclusion: Finding of the present study may indicate the relationship between osteoarthritis and metabolic syndrome, hypercholesterolemia and central obesity.