Investigation of the relationships between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry images

Osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) are diseases affecting joints and bones. OA is generally assessed using radiographs and OP by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans however OA can also be assessed on DXA images using Kellgren Lawrence Grading (KLG). OP is a well understood disease, with effective treatments (e.g. bisphosphonates) that prevent or delay fracture. However we do not fully understand OA and there are no effective disease modifying drugs. Large datasets collected on existing cohorts for the study of OP may be able to tell us more about OA, particularly those of the general population used as a screening tool for a clinical trial.

The aim of this study is to measure the frequency and severity of hip OA from DXA scans in a cohort of postmenopausal women and investigate the relationship between OA, OP and bone density and whether these factors can predict the 10-year probability of Total Hip Replacement (THR).