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Journal article
Associations of popliteal artery wall morphology at MRI and knee osteoarthritis in the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Radiology, Vol.320(2), e253583
08/2026
PMCID: PMC13507909
PMID: 42550019
Web of Science ID: WOS:001878022000001
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Abstract
Background: Vascular factors have been associated with osteoarthritis (OA), but the association between popliteal artery wall morphology and symptomatic and radiographic knee OA outcomes over time remains unclear.
Purpose: To evaluate the associations between MRI-derived measures of popliteal artery wall morphology (localized wall thickening and global wall burden) and symptomatic and radiographic knee OA outcomes.
Materials and Methods: In this secondary analysis of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (February 2004 to October 2015), baseline knee MRI scans were analyzed to quantify maximum wall thickness and normalized wall index (NWI). Symptomatic OA was assessed using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores, and radiographic OA using Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations were assessed using linear regression and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively, adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates.
Results: A total of 9333 knees from 4710 participants (mean age, 61.1 years ± 9.2 [SD]; 2753 female) were included. Each 1-mm increase in maximum wall thickness was associated with higher WOMAC pain scores (β = 2.0; P < .001) and KL grades (β = 0.1; P < .001), as well as symptomatic worsening (hazard ratio = 1.10 [95% CI: 1.02, 1.19]; P = .02) and incident radiographic OA (hazard ratio = 1.21 [95% CI: 1.02, 1.44]; P = .044). Each 10% increase in NWI was associated with higher WOMAC pain scores (β = 6.7; P < .001) and symptomatic worsening (hazard ratio = 1.38 [95% CI: 1.20, 1.58]; P < .001) but was inversely associated with KL grade (β = −0.1; P = .001) and incident radiographic OA (hazard ratio = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.43, 0.83]; P = .004).
Conclusion: Localized popliteal arterial wall thickening was associated with symptomatic OA worsening and incident radiographic OA, whereas diffuse wall remodeling was associated with symptomatic OA worsening and was inversely associated with radiographic outcomes.
Clinical trial registration no. NCT00080171
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Details
- Title
- Associations of popliteal artery wall morphology at MRI and knee osteoarthritis in the Osteoarthritis Initiative
- Publication Details
- Radiology, Vol.320(2), e253583
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Radiological Society of North America, Inc.
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): N01-AR-2-2258, N01-AR-2-2259, N01-AR-2-2260, N01-AR-2-2261, N01-AR-2-2262 NIH Merck Research Laboratories Novartis Pharmaceuticals GlaxoSmithKline Pfizer
The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) is a public-private partnership supported through National Institutes of Health (NIH) contracts N01-AR-2-2258, N01-AR-2-2259, N01-AR-2-2260, N01-AR-2-2261, and N01-AR-2-2262 and conducted by the OAI investigators. The study was primarily funded by the NIH, with additional support from private industry partners including Merck Research Laboratories, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, and Pfizer. This manuscript used publicly available OAI datasets, and the findings presented do not necessarily represent the views of the OAI investigators, the NIH, or the private funding partners.
- Copyright
- © 2026 by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc.
- Identifiers
- WOS:001878022000001; 99381900686406600
- Academic Unit
- Usha Kundu, MD College of Health; Movement Sciences and Health
- Language
- English