Hand osteoarthritis is a heterogeneous condition with complex differences in age, gender, race, symptoms and patterns of affected joints. The Osteoarthritis Initiative described the prevalence, incidence and progression, and the variation therein in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Among the 3588 participants, the prevalence of radiographic hand OA was 41.4% and the prevalence of symptomatic hand OA was 12.4%. The incidence over 48 months was 5.6% for radiographic hand OA and 16.9% for symptomatic hand OA. During 48 months, 27.3% of the participants had progressed.
Complex differences were found based on age, gender and race. Admittedly, as would be expected, the prevalence of hand osteoarthritis increased with age in both men and women, but the incidence peaked in women aged 55-64. Women had higher rates of symptomatic hand OA, but only a non-significantly higher incidence of radiographic hand OA than men. Furthermore, women were more likely to have distal interphalangeal joint disease, while men were more likely to have osteoarthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Black people had a lower rate of hand osteoarthritis than white participants. Black men were more likely to develop hand osteoarthritis at a younger age than black women.
Further research is needed into the question of which mechanisms underlie these differences, ie whether they are mechanical, metabolic, hormonal or constitutional in nature.
Bron:
Eaton CB, Schaefer LF, Duryea J, et al. Prevalence, Incidence, and Progression of Radiographic and Symptomatic Hand Osteoarthritis: The Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2022;74:992-1000.