Researchers develop risk prediction models for knee osteoarthritis

Researchers at the Division of Academic Rheumatology have recently developed risk prediction models for knee osteoarthritis (OA) -- the Nottingham Knee OA Risk Prediction Models. According to their paper published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (Zhang et al, ARD 2011 doi:10.1136/ard.2011.149807), their models could be used to: - 

[1] predict the risk of development of knee OA according to individual characteristics such as age, gender, body mass index etc;

[2] predict the risk of OA disease progression according to patient characteristics;  

[3] predict the risk reduction at the population level for different countries when the risk factors are modified.

The risk prediction models are the first to be highlighted as a new development in OA which may be used to guide the future primary and secondary prevention of the disease (OARSI Annual Congress 15-16 Sept San Diego).

The project was funded by Arthritis Research UK and the BUPA Foundation.