A negative relationship was observed between hip bone mineral density (BMD) and bone marrow lesions (BMLs), and knee cartilage defects as per the latest study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

Osteoarthritis is the common prevalent type of arthritis. While it can appear even in young people, the chance of growing chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints arises after the age of 45. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 27 million characters in the U.S. have osteoarthritis, with the knee being one of the most affected areas. Women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men.

The connection between BMD and osteoarthritis remains controversial. The study aimed to explore the cross-sectional relationship between BMD at the total body, hip, and spine and joint structural abnormalities; cartilage defects and BMLs in patients with knee OA.

A total of 185 subjects with symptomatic knee OA were included. T2-weighted fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate knee cartilage deficits and BMLs. Total body, hip, and spine BMD were estimated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

After potential confounders were adjusted, total hip BMD was negatively related to medial tibial cartilage deficits, lateral femoral cartilage deficits, medial tibial BMLs and lateral tibial BMLs. Spine and whole body BMD were negatively related to lateral femoral cartilage deficits, but not with BMLs.