Sarcopenic osteoarthritis: a new entity in geriatric medicine?

PURPOSE

Osteoarthritis, a disease characterized by cartilage degradation, abnormal subchondral bone remodeling and some grade of inflammation, and sarcopenia, a condition of low muscle mass associated with reduced strength and function, are prevalent disorders in older adults. In this review, we examine what is known about the relationship between osteoarthritis and sarcopenia, with particular focus on the older population. We also discuss how osteoarthritis and sarcopenia may interact and affect each other in clinical progression and the potential benefits from developing treatments that address such muscular-skeletal interaction.

METHODS

We searched in Pubmed and Scopus through a combination of search and MESH terms, for osteoarthritis and sarcopenia.

RESULTS

Even if more literature is needed, there is increasing evidence that decline in lower limb muscle strength is associated with knee or hip osteoarthritis in a pathological network of pain, altered joint stability, maladapted postures and defective neuromuscular communication. At the cellular levels, chondrocytes and myoblasts share common pathways, and the close anatomical location of both cell types also suggest the possibility of paracrine communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia and osteoarthritis are significantly intercorrelated and in the near future should be considered as an only entity, as we have recently proposed for sarcopenia and osteoporosis. The treatment of both sarcopenia and osteoarthritis is based on physical exercise and nutritional interventions with the aim of improving cartilage, bone and muscle health. Future studies are needed, particularly to know the exact prevalence of sarcopenia in people with osteoarthritis, its peculiar consequences and the most appropriate treatments.