Relationship between Osteoarthritis and Thyroid Dysfunction, as well as with Physical and Demographic Features

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a commonly prevalent and chronically complicated condition that affects different joints in millions of patients worldwide, leading to a cumulative effect over time. Due to few global prospective studies, this study investigated the association of OA to bodily and demographic characteristics of the study population. It demonstrated the levels of thyroid hormones in OA patients. Totally, 324 individuals; 162 normal (GN), 111 doubtful to minimal OA (GOA1) and 51 moderately to severe OA (GOA2) were subjected to this study from September to December (2021). For bodily characteristics of the study population, the findings of age, height and gender showed insignificance between study groups but not in weight and BMI. Regarding demographic data, level of education, non-smoking and smoking, and non-arthritis and arthritis population were associated almost insignificantly with OA patients except for GOA2 patients, who showed a significant correlation to OA compared to GOA1 and GN. For chronic diseases, the association was observed insignificantly between GOA1, GOA2 and GN of 1 and 2 chronic diseases and between GOA1 and GN of 3 and 4 chronic diseases; however, significance was recorded in values of GOA2 in comparison with values of GOA1 and GN. For physical activity, significance was observed in low and high values but not in medium activities. Results without and with walking aids were variable significantly, in particular in values of GOA2 when compared to GOA1 and GN. Findings of TSH, T3 and T4 of GOA1, GOA2 and GN were correlated significantly. The association of TSH to the severity of OA revealed an obvious significance in values of crude, adjusted 1 and 2 models. In conclusion, this study was the first Iraqi report, and studies are necessary due to the significant association between OA and thyroid hormone dysfunction. Keywords: OA, T3, T4, TSH, Risk factor, Iraq