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Despite the growing base of data from arthritis research, there remains a lack of adequate scientific information regarding the relationship between bone mineral density and hip osteoarthritis (OA). A new study shows that while higher bone mineral density may lower the risk of painful hip OA among middle-aged and older adults followed for a median of 6.5 years, having “intermediate” (vs. “low” or “high”) bone mineral density may increase the risk of OA – including OA accompanied by symptoms – in knees. Overall, these results suggest that having high bone mineral density does not increase the risk of hip or knee OA, and may reduce the risk of painful hip OA.

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The research relied, in part, on data obtained from study participants in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project (JoCoOA), which is based in NC and is one of the largest and longest-lasting OA studies in the U.S. JoCoOA director and principal investigator Joanne Jordan, MD, MPH, was one of the study authors for the bone mineral density research.

The study findings were recently published in Arthritis Care & Research. Read more about the study via This Link.