Diminished vibration perception and greater pressure pain sensitivity are associated with worse knee osteoarthritis outcomes across sex and race.

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations of vibration sensitivity and pressure pain sensitivity with knee osteoarthritis (OA) outcomes across sex and race, which may relate to known sex and race disparities in clinical outcomes.

DESIGN

Data were from the 2013-2015 visit of the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Exposures were vibration perception threshold (VPT) measured at the bilateral medial femoral condyle (MFC) and first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), and pressure pain threshold (PPT) measured at the bilateral upper trapezius. Outcomes were knee pain severity and presence of knee symptoms, radiographic knee OA, and symptomatic knee OA in each knee. Cross-sectional associations of the exposures with the outcomes were examined using logistic regression models, overall and separately by sex and race.

RESULTS

In the VPT and PPT analyses, 851 and 862 participants (mean age 71 years, 68% female, 33% Black, body mass index 31 kg/m) and 1585 and 1660 knees were included, respectively. Higher VPT (lower vibration sensitivity) at the MFC and first MTP joint was associated with all outcomes. Lower PPT (greater pressure pain sensitivity) was associated with greater knee pain severity. Associations of VPT and PPT with all outcomes were similar among females and males and Black and White individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Diminished vibration perception and greater pressure pain sensitivity were cross-sectionally associated with worse knee OA outcomes. Despite differences in VPT and PPT among females and males and Black and White adults, associations with knee OA outcomes did not differ by sex or race, suggesting neurophysiological differences do not relate to established disparities.