Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-25-2026

Institution/Department

Center for Interdisciplinary and Population Health Research; Pediatrics

Journal Title

Arthritis Rheumatol

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether concentrations of specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and a mixture of PFAS relate to incident knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and knee pain progression.

METHODS: Among a case-cohort sample from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (n=1,878), we examined associations of serum concentrations of 8 PFAS with odds of developing over the subsequent 48 months (1) symptomatic KOA and (2) a clinically meaningful change in WOMAC knee pain score. We used weighted logistic regression to assess single PFAS (continuous and quartiles) and quantile g-computation to assess the PFAS-mixture in relation to our outcomes, accounting for sociodemographics.

RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of participants were female with a mean age of 62 years and BMI of 28.6 kg/m

CONCLUSION: In a large cohort at risk for KOA, higher perfluorooctanoic acid and PFNA serum concentrations may be associated with a greater likelihood of symptomatic KOA incidence and knee pain progression.

ISSN

2326-5205

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