New research has found a link between atopic diseases, such as asthma and eczema and an increased risk of osteoarthritis (OA).
The study, published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, looked at OA rates in more than 334,000 patients with an average age of 52. They have suggested that the allergic reactions which cause asthma and eczema can lead to swelling that results in OA, which is a debilitating and painful condition.
The researchers analysed data of 117,346 individuals with atopic diseases and found that they saw 27 new cases per 1000 people compared to 19 for those without over the 10 year period of the study.
"Patients with atopic disease have an increased risk of developing OA compared with the general population," wrote the researchers.
"The association between atopic disease and OA is supported by recent observations that mast cells and type II cytokines may play important roles in the pathogenesis broadly, not just in patients with atopic disease."
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and can lead to debilitating joint pain.
The researchers used claims data from January 2003 to June 2019, and then electronic health record data from January 2010 to December 2020. They found that there was a 42 percent higher risk of incidence among those with both conditions.
The researchers believe that future studies should evaluate possible interventions that target allergic pathways in prevention and treatment of patients with osteoarthritis.
"Our findings provide further support for the concept that allergic pathways may contribute to the development of OA," said the researchers.
"If this is indeed true, non-atopic patients may also benefit from the use of treatments that inhibit mast cells and allergic cytokines to treat or prevent OA."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
