Latest news with #JoonaTapio
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Knee pain in your 30s? New study links rising BMI to why a condition once tied to old age is now affecting young adults
A recent study from the University of Oulu indicates that knee joint deterioration can begin silently in early adulthood, even without pain. MRI scans of asymptomatic individuals revealed frequent subtle knee findings, particularly in the patellofemoral joint. Higher BMI was strongly associated with these findings, suggesting a potential risk factor for early cartilage damage. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A new study by Joona Tapio and Antti Kemppainen of the University of Oulu reveals that knee joints may begin to deteriorate silently well before any pain is felt. This could explain why many 33-year-olds already exhibit signs of cartilage damage in their knees despite having no symptoms."Knee joint is the most common joint affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Degenerative findings in the knee joint are common in older adults, but can manifest already in early adulthood," said the study."In finding-specific regression analyses, higher body mass index (BMI) was most frequently associated with knee MRI findings. In this relatively young and asymptomatic population, subtle knee MRI findings were already frequent, especially in the patellofemoral joint. Of analyzed background and clinical parameters, higher BMI was most frequently associated with MRI findings. Based on these results, longitudinal studies are warranted to further identify risk factors and proportions of progressing MRI findings," said the study explained that a large cohort study of over 290 000 patients found that the fraction of patients with OA in the 18–44-year age category had increased from 6.2% in 2001 to 22.7% in 2018."The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 survey reported a consistent rise in the global OA incidence and prevalence in the 30–44-year age groups from 1990 to 2019. In high socio-demographic index regions, the incidence and prevalence of OA in these age groups exceeded the age-standardized world average. As high body mass index (BMI) contributed to only approximately 20% of the total OA burden, the increase is likely attributed to increased health awareness, a lowered threshold to seek medical evaluation and, consequently, diagnostic imaging," according to the study.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Knee pain in your 30s? New study links rising BMI to why a condition once tied to old age is now affecting young adults
A recent study from the University of Oulu indicates that knee joint deterioration can begin silently in early adulthood, even without pain. MRI scans of asymptomatic individuals revealed frequent subtle knee findings, particularly in the patellofemoral joint. Higher BMI was strongly associated with these findings, suggesting a potential risk factor for early cartilage damage. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A new study by Joona Tapio and Antti Kemppainen of the University of Oulu reveals that knee joints may begin to deteriorate silently well before any pain is felt. This could explain why many 33-year-olds already exhibit signs of cartilage damage in their knees despite having no symptoms."Knee joint is the most common joint affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Degenerative findings in the knee joint are common in older adults, but can manifest already in early adulthood," said the study."In finding-specific regression analyses, higher body mass index (BMI) was most frequently associated with knee MRI findings. In this relatively young and asymptomatic population, subtle knee MRI findings were already frequent, especially in the patellofemoral joint. Of analyzed background and clinical parameters, higher BMI was most frequently associated with MRI findings. Based on these results, longitudinal studies are warranted to further identify risk factors and proportions of progressing MRI findings," said the study explained that a large cohort study of over 290 000 patients found that the fraction of patients with OA in the 18–44-year age category had increased from 6.2% in 2001 to 22.7% in 2018."The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 survey reported a consistent rise in the global OA incidence and prevalence in the 30–44-year age groups from 1990 to 2019. In high socio-demographic index regions, the incidence and prevalence of OA in these age groups exceeded the age-standardized world average. As high body mass index (BMI) contributed to only approximately 20% of the total OA burden, the increase is likely attributed to increased health awareness, a lowered threshold to seek medical evaluation and, consequently, diagnostic imaging," according to the study.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
30-year-olds are facing early knee damage. Study explains the reason behind it
A new study led by Joona Tapio and Antti Kemppainen from the University of Oulu suggests that knee joints can undergo silent deterioration long before any pain appears. This may explain why many 33-year-olds already show signs of cartilage damage in their knees despite experiencing no discomfort. Also read | Knee pain stopping you from being active? Expert shares 6 tips on how you can modify your exercises Published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the study found that structural damage in the knees is surprisingly common among adults in their 30s—even in those with no symptoms. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the young adults studied had cartilage damage or bone growths that had likely developed over years or even decades, all without any noticeable pain. The study was conducted by analysing MRI scans of 288 participants (about 61% women) with an average age of 33.7 years from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. To understand the patterns better, the study selected participants from Finland's two northernmost provinces, born between July 1985 and June 1986. Comprehensive clinical evaluations, laboratory analyses, and knee MRIs of the participants were studied. Also read | Say goodbye to joint pain without surgery: Expert shares 8 tips on diet plan, lifestyle tweaks, treatments and therapies Even though most of the participants reported no signs of pain, they were asked which knee troubled them more. The MRI scans of that knee was studied. In most cases, structural changes were observed in those knees. Half of the participants had damage in the cartilage where the kneecap meets the thigh bone, while a quarter of the participants showed damage where the thigh bone meetings the shin bone. The study authors explained that one of the essential factors that can drive joint changes is body weight. Body Mass Index was observed to be one of the driving forces behind increasing rates and severity of knee damages. Also read | Knee pain and mental health: How stress, anxiety, and chronic pain interact Another factor that drives joint changes is elevated blood urate levels and systolic blood pressure. A family history of knee osteoarthritis was also observed to have an influence. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
