Excessive alcohol consumption and the risk of knee osteoarthritis: a prospective study from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of alcohol consumption with risk of incident knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a large prospective cohort study.

DESIGN

In the Osteoarthritis Initiative, 2,846 participants aged 45-79 years and free from radiographic knee OA in at least one knee at baseline were followed up to 96 months. Information on baseline alcohol consumption was obtained from the Block Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire. Incident cases of radiographic knee OA (ROA) were defined as Kellgren-Lawrence grade changing from zero or one to ≥ two during the follow-up time. Incident symptomatic OA (SxOA) was defined as ROA with knee pain worsening. The Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the independent association between alcohol consumption and risk of knee.

RESULTS

During 96 months' follow-up, we identified 691 knees with incident ROA, and 496 knees with incident SxOA among 2,846 subjects. Compared to non-drinkers, excessive alcohol consumption was significantly associated with increased risk of ROA (HR  = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.28-2.89) and SxOA (HR  = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.04-2.48). Similar association was observed for liquor consumption (HR  = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.16-2.52 for ROA; HR  = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.04-2.39 for SxOA). Light to moderate alcohol consumption was not associated with knee OA risk.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that excessive alcohol drinking was associated with an increased risk of knee OA. Further studies are needed in other populations.