Original Articles

Knee osteoarthritis and menopausal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Jung, Jae Hyun MD, PhD1,2; Bang, Cho Hee RN, MS3; Song, Gwan Gyu MD, PhD1,2; Kim, Cholhee PT, MS4; Kim, Jae-Hoon MD, PhD1,2; Choi, Sung Jae MD, PhD1,5

Author Information

1Korea University College of Medicine, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea

2Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, Korea

3Korea University College of Nursing, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea

4Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Inchon National University, Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Inchon, Korea

5Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.

Address correspondence to: Sung Jae Choi, MD, PhD, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 123, Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do 15355, Korea. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 27 July, 2018

Revised 29 October, 2018

Accepted 29 October, 2018

JHJ and CHB contributed equally to this work.

Funding/support: None reported.

Financial disclosure/conflicts of interest: None reported.

Menopause 26(6):p 598-602, June 2019. | DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001280

Abstract

Objective: 

The incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) increases after menopause, and may be related to hormonal changes in women. Estrogen deficiency is known to affect the development of OA, and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is suggested to be related to the development of OA. However, the relationship between knee OA and MHT remains controversial. The association between knee OA prevalence and MHT was investigated using large-scale national data.

Methods: 

Data were collected from 4,766 postmenopausal women from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2012). MHT was defined as regular hormone medication for ≥1 year, and demographic and lifestyle variables were compared between the MHT and non-MHT groups. Knee OA was defined according to symptoms and radiographic findings.

Results: 

In the multiple logistic regression models, the OA odds ratio was 0.70 for the MHT group (95% confidence interval 0.50-0.99), compared with the non-MHT group.

Conclusions: 

The prevalence of knee OA was lower in participants with MHT than in those without MHT.

© 2018 by The North American Menopause Society

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