Signal intensity alteration and maximal area of pericruciate fat pad are associated with incident radiographic osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Objective To determine whether pericruciate fat pad (PCFP) signal intensity alteration and maximal area are associated with incident radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) over 4 years in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) study. Methods Participants were from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) study. Case knees ( n = 355) were defined by incident ROA between 12 and 48 months visits and were matched by sex, age, and radiographic status with control knees ( n = 355). Magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were used to assess PCFP signal intensity alteration and PCFP maximal area at P0 (time of onset of ROA), P-1 (1 year prior to P0), and baseline. Conditional logistic regression analyses were applied to assess associations between PCFP measures and the risk of incident ROA. Results The mean age of participants was 60.1 years and 66.9% were women. In multivariable analyses, PCFP signal intensity alteration measured at three time points (OR [95%CI]: 1.28 [1.10–1.50], 1.52 [1.30–1.78], 1.50 [1.27–1.76], respectively) and PCFP maximal area (OR [95%CI]: 1.21 [1.03–1.42], 1.27 [1.07–1.52], 1.37 [1.15–1.62], respectively) were significantly associated with incident ROA. Conclusions PCFP signal intensity alteration and maximal area were associated with incident ROA over 4 years, implying that they may have roles to play in ROA. Key Points • Pericruciate fat pad signal intensity alteration and maximal area were associated with incident ROA, implying that they may have roles to play in ROA.