Metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis: associations with disease stage and pain

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Knee osteoarthritis (n=251). Intervention: Metabolic syndrome vs. Without metabolic syndrome. Primary outcome: Late-stage knee osteoarthritis (aPR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16-1.81).

Jami Kronick; Trevor B Birmingham; Surim Son; Andrew J E Appleton; C Thomas Appleton

doi:10.1093/rap/rkag048

April 17, 2026Rheumatology Advances in PracticeOpen Access

Metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis: associations with disease stage and pain

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Key result

Metabolic syndrome is linked to ~45% higher prevalence of late-stage knee osteoarthritis, independent of BMI.

aPR 1.45
95% CI 1.16-1.81
n=251

Why the study?

Is metabolic syndrome associated with worse radiographic stage and knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis?

Key Points

This research examines the relationship between metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis outcomes across disease stages.
Analyzed baseline data of 251 individuals from the Western Ontario Registry for Early Osteoarthritis.
Used modified Poisson regression to assess associations between metabolic syndrome and radiographic stage.
Evaluated knee pain using multivariable linear regression, stratified by osteoarthritis stage and adjusted for body mass index.
Metabolic syndrome was linked to a higher prevalence of late-stage knee osteoarthritis (aPR 1.45).
After adjusting for body mass index, hypertension and HbA1C showed continued associations with late-stage disease.
Participants with metabolic syndrome experienced worse knee pain, particularly in early-stage disease, with a reduction in KOOS pain scores.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=251)

Structured PICO

Is metabolic syndrome associated with worse radiographic stage and knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis?

P

Population

251 participants with early- and late-stage knee osteoarthritis from the Western Ontario Registry for Early Osteoarthritis.

E

Exposure

Metabolic syndrome (exposure)

O

Outcome

Radiographic stage and knee pain (measured by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS])patient reported

Main Result

Relative Risk: 1.45 (95% CI 1.16–1.81)

Implication

Metabolic syndrome and its components are independently associated with greater radiographic severity and clinically meaningful worsening of pain in knee osteoarthritis, particularly in early-stage disease.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Kronick et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Knee osteoarthritis (n=251). Metabolic syndrome vs. Without metabolic syndrome was evaluated on Late-stage knee osteoarthritis (aPR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16-1.81). Metabolic syndrome was associated with a higher prevalence of late-stage knee osteoarthritis (aPR 1.45; 95% CI 1.16-1.81) and worse knee pain, independent of BMI.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69eb0bc7553a5433e34b5497 https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkag048

View Full Paper

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Metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis: associations with disease stage and pain

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Implication

Discussion

Cite This Study

Metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis: associations with disease stage and pain

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Implication

Discussion

Cite This Study

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