Cigarette smoking and the risk for cartilage loss and knee pain in men with knee osteoarthritis

Amin S, Niu J, Guermazi A, et al. · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Current smokers had roughly 2.3–2.5-fold higher odds of MRI cartilage loss at medial tibiofemoral (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0–5.4) and patellofemoral (OR 2.5, 1.1–5.7) compartments, and reported more pain at baseline and follow-up.

Population

159 men with symptomatic knee OA followed 30 months with serial MRI (19 current smokers)

Intervention

Current smoking (observed)

Comparator

Non-smokers (including ex-smokers)

Limitations

Only 19 current smokers; men only; residual confounding (BMI, activity, occupation) possible; observational.