Medical Edge Newspaper Column

Smoking and Arthritis

October 1, 2007
Readers:
Here's yet another item to add to the long list of health problems that can be caused by smoking cigarettes: Among those with degenerative or wear-and-tear knee arthritis (osteoarthritis), smokers have greater cartilage loss and more severe knee pain than do nonsmokers. That's according to a study led by Mayo Clinic researchers and published in a recent issue of "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases."

The study involved 159 men who were at least 45 years old and had knee pain from osteoarthritis. Nineteen men, or 12 percent of the total, were still smoking. At the start of the study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were taken of each participant's more painful knee. In addition, the men rated their pain on a pain scale. Researchers followed up with additional MRIs on each of the men at 15 months and 30 months. Pain ratings were also noted at these intervals.

After adjusting for factors that may have influenced cartilage damage, such as weight and age, researchers found that smokers had about two-and-a-half times greater risk of cartilage loss, compared with those who had never smoked or stopped smoking. Smokers also reported higher pain scores.

— Adapted from "Mayo Clinic Health Letter"