Association of Osteoarthritis with Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly: Findings from the Progetto Veneto Anziano Study Cohort

Objective The possible relevance of osteoarthritis (OA) as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor is still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between OA and the onset of CVD in older individuals. Methods Among a sample of 3,099 elderly subjects, 2,158 were identified as having no CVD at baseline and were followed up for a mean ± SD 4.4 ± 1.2 years. OA was defined using a standardized algorithm that investigated disease history, medical documentation (including radiographic reports), symptoms, and physical examination of the joints. Incident CVD was defined as the onset of coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke/transient ischemic attack, peripheral …