Stratified by race, all-cause mortality was increased with hip pain alone, and was more pronounced in white patients (HR, 1.39) than in African American patients (HR, 1.24). Interestingly, the risk of all-cause death was lower in African American patients who had symptomatic hip OA than their white counterparts (HR, 0.78 and 1.16, respectively).
Furthermore, Dr. Cleveland reported that hip pain was strongly associated with all-cause mortality in those younger than 65 years (HR, 1.56) when compared with those who were 65 years and up (HR, 1.18). Of note, the risk of death was higher in younger patients with symptomatic hip pain than in older patients (HR, 1.33 and 0.88, respectively).
A 41% increased death risk was also observed in patients with hip pain who had a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 (HR, 1.41 vs. HR, 1.29 for those with hip pain and a body mass index of less than 30 kg/m2).
“Our results are independent of comorbidities and sociodemographic measures,” Dr. Cleveland said. “This suggests there are mechanisms beyond comorbidities in the link between radiographic hip OA and mortality risk.”