“This type of mediation analysis has not been done in the osteoarthritis field before,” Mr. Parmar observed. He conceded that the mediators found might actually have contributed to the development of OA and that pain interference used in the definition of OA could have been caused by other factors.
Nevertheless, these data suggest that there may be actionable factors that could be used in primary care to reduce mortality in OA.
Mr. Parmar suggested that “encouraging physical activity and considering the impact of comorbidities can help reduce the risk of mortality in adults with osteoarthritis.”
The study was funded by Arthritis Research UK, the North Staffordshire Primary Care Consortium, and the Medical Research Council. Mr. Parmar had no conflicts of interest to disclose.
SOURCE: Parmar S et al. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2018;26(1):S14-15.