Atopic Diseases Linked to Increased Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis, Study Finds

The researchers revealed that atopic diseases like asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were linked to a 36% higher risk of knee osteoarthritis, with the risk rising further with multiple conditions. Strongest associations were seen in those aged 50–59, males, and non-obese individuals, highlighting atopic diseases as a notable risk factor for knee OA.

Knee osteoarthritis and atopic diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, share the common underlying mechanisms of chronic inflammation. However, the potential link between these conditions has remained unclear. For this purpose, Dojoon Park, The Catholic University of Korea, Jungbu-daero, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, and colleagues conducted a large nationwide cohort study to investigate whether individuals with atopic diseases face a higher risk of developing knee OA.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a nationwide cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), encompassing 880,300 individuals aged 50 and older. Atopic diseases were defined based on three or more outpatient visits for asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. The incidence of knee osteoarthritis was identified using ICD-10 diagnostic codes, and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between atopic conditions and knee OA risk.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

• Individuals with atopic diseases had a 36% higher risk of developing knee osteoarthritis compared to those without (HR = 1.36).
• A dose-response relationship was observed, with the risk rising as the number of atopic conditions increased (HR = 1.44 for two conditions; HR = 1.51 for all three).
• The strongest associations were among individuals aged 50–59 years and among males.

The nationwide cohort study highlights a significant link between atopic diseases and an elevated risk of knee osteoarthritis, particularly in younger individuals. These findings suggest that atopic conditions may serve as a potential risk factor for knee OA, underscoring the need for further research to clarify the role of atopic-specific inflammation and explore possible avenues for targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

"Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to monitor the progression of osteoarthritis in individuals with atopic diseases, along with experimental investigations into shared inflammatory pathways," the authors noted. They further emphasized that identifying common biomarkers could facilitate early diagnosis and targeted therapies, while clinical trials assessing the impact of managing atopic inflammation on osteoarthritis outcomes would be essential for translating these findings into clinical practice.

Reference:

Park, D., Choi, Y., Han, K., Koh, H., & Koh, H. S. (2025). Risk of knee osteoarthritis in patients with multiple atopic conditions: A nationwide study. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92247-7