Lim MJ, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2014 Apr;29(4):502-506. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.4.502

Osteoarthritis (OA) has a multifactorial etiology that includes oxidative stress. Oxidative balance score (OBS) is a well-known indicator of oxidative stress. However, the association between OBS and OA has not been assessed. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the associations of OBS with OA and quality of life (QOL) in patients with OA. By using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI, patients previously diagnosed and/or treated by a physician were considered to have OA regardless of the affected joints. The control group was defined as participants without any form of chronic arthritis. OBS was calculated by combining 10 pro-oxidant and antioxidant factors through a baseline nutritional and lifestyle assessment. Higher OBS scores indicated a predominance of antioxidant exposure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for OA, and the EuroQoL five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ5D) was used in patients with OA after adjusting for demographic factors and comorbidities. Among the 14,930 participants, 296 patients with OA, and 1,309 controls were included in the analysis. In the age- and sex-adjusted model, the OR of the total OBS for OA was significant. In the full model adjusted for age, sex, education, income, and comorbidities, the total OBS for OA was not significant. Only the non-dietary pro-oxidant OBS had a significant inverse association with OA. The patients with OA who had a high EQ5D score had a higher total OBS than those with a low EQ5D score. The OR of the total OBS for a high EQ5D score was 1.14 in the multivariable logistic regression model. As we analyzed the OBS as a categorical variable (reference = Q1), the ORs of the Q2, Q3, and Q4 (highest) total OBS were 1.43, 2.71, and 2.22, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, the total OBS was not associated with OA. However, a positive association was observed between the total OBS and QOL in the patients with OA, indicating that antioxidative status was associated with better QOL in patients with OA.

As the prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia increases, the comorbidities of gout and hyperuricemia have become a public health burden. In particular, risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related complications are increasing. However, a few guidelines exist for the management of hyperuricemia. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association of serum uric acid with CVD risk in the general population of Korean adults. We examined cross-sectional data from the first and second years of the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2017. Among 16,277 participants, 8781 were analyzed. We estimated the CVD risk using a 10-year CVD risk score prediction formula. There was a significant association of serum uric acid with 10-year CVD risk scores after adjusting for physical activity, body mass index, serum creatinine, and alcohol consumption in both sexes (p < 0.001). In the fitted fractional polynomial model, an approximate U-shaped association between serum uric acid levels and 10-year CVD risk scores was found in men. At the serum uric acid level of 6.9 mg/dL, the CVD risk was lowest. An approximate J-shaped association between serum uric acid levels and 10-year CVD risk scores was found in women. Our study showed that hyperuricemia was associated with an increased CVD risk. Hypouricemia was also associated with an increased CVD risk in men. We, therefore, recommend proper management of uric acid levels in the general population to reduce CVD risks.

Joo K, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2014 May;29(5):657-661. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.5.657

Changes in the musculoskeletal system due to aging lead to muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, degenerative changes in joints and cartilage, and decreased bone density. Pain in the joints is a very common and subjective symptom. There are various causes, such as referred pain or neurological pain that make it difficult to diagnose correctly. Especially, in elderly patients, their detailed history and a physical examination are important for the diagnosis of arthritis, and consideration of the effects of underlying diseases and drugs is essential. In this review, we first describe the clinical approach to diagnosis of arthritis, and briefly describe the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout, which are common arthritis causing gait disorders in the elderly.