This "Year in Review" presents a curated selection of research themes and individual studies within the clinical osteoarthritis (OA) field, focusing on epidemiology and therapy. The search was conducted in electronic database MEDLINE from March 4, 2023, to March 31, 2024, specifically targeting English-language articles involving human participants. Inclusions were based on perceived importance and relevance to identifying risk factors or advancing OA treatments. A total of 6,539 studies were screened by the 5 authors, resulting in 157 studies considered for potential inclusion. Ultimately, 44 studies were selected, uncovering six key OA-related themes: i) the burden of OA (mostly from Global Burden of Disease studies), ii) pain drivers and trajectories, iii) impacts of sex/gender, iv) OA risk factors, and treatments for v) hand and vi) knee OA. The prevalence of OA continues to rise, particularly affecting women, with unclear distinctions in risk factors and treatment responses between sex. Associations with atopy were demonstrated in two significant databases. Notably, the authors were particularly interested in recent high-quality methodology randomised controlled trials focusing on hand (methotrexate, denosumab, colchicine, topical bethamethasone) and knee OA with conflicting results about stem cells injection. These findings collectively contribute to show the growing burden of OA, but also to help the understanding of OA pathophysiology and inform ongoing efforts to enhance management for people with OA.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In ankylosing spondylitis (AS), there is a paucity of information concerning this risk. Our objective was to assess the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) or strokes and the cardiovascular risk profile in AS patients.Methods: We performed a systematic literature review using PubMed, EMBase, and the Cochrane Library up to August 2009. Incidence of MI or stroke was calculated by metaproportion. For cardiovascular risk factors, differences between AS patients and controls were expressed by standardized mean differences using inverse of variance method.Results: For MI, 8 longitudinal studies were included. In controls (n = 82,745), 1,318 MI cases were observed (4.6%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2%, 10.0%). In AS patients (n = 3,279), 224 MI cases were reported (incidence 7.4%; 95% CI 5.2%, 10.0%). The increase in MI cases in AS patients was not significant (risk ratio 1.88; 95% CI 0.83, 4.28). For stroke, 7 longitudinal studies reported 327 strokes in AS patients (n = 31,949), which is an incidence of 2.2% (95% CI 1.3%, 3.4%). In controls (n = 7,372), one study reported 170 strokes (2.3%; 95% CI 2.0%, 2.7%). For cardiovascular risk factors, 15 case–control studies and 9 abstracts were included (n = 1,214 for patients and n = 1,000 for controls). AS patients were characterized by a higher weighted mean intima‐media thickness and higher risk of metabolic syndrome. In AS patients, there was a significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.Conclusion: AS patients appear to be at higher risk of MI, which could be due to low HDL cholesterol levels or to systemic inflammation. Management of cardiovascular risk factors and control of systemic inflammation should be taken into account in AS.

Conflicting evidence exists concerning the effects of nutrient intake in osteoarthritis (OA). A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library up to November 2021 to assess the effects of nutrients on pain, stiffness, function, quality of life, and inflammation markers. We obtained 52 references including 50 on knee OA. Twelve studies compared 724 curcumin patients and 714 controls. Using the standardized mean difference, improvement was significant with regard to pain and function in the curcumin group compared to placebo, but not with active treatment (i.e., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroitin, or paracetamol). Three studies assessed the effects of ginger on OA symptoms in 166 patients compared to 164 placebo controls. Pain was the only clinical parameter that significantly decreased. Vitamin D supplementation caused a significant decrease in pain and function. Omega-3 and vitamin E caused no changes in OA parameters. Herbal formulations effects were significant only for stiffness compared to placebo, but not with active treatment. A significant decrease in inflammatory markers was found, especially with ginger. Thus, curcumin and ginger supplementation can have a favorable impact on knee OA symptoms. Other studies are needed to better assess the effects of omega-3 and vitamin D.

Objective. The excess cardiac risk, found in RA has been attributed to biological inflammation. Effective control of inflammation may be of benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk in RA patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of 24 and 52 weeks of rituximab treatment on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors.