Association of Sarcopenia with Pain and Disability in Hand Osteoarthritis - A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional, Single-Center Study

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Adam

Sarcopenia is associated with worse clinical outcomes in osteoarthritis, but its link to symptom burden in hand osteoarthritis remained unclear. This retrospective, cross-sectional single-center study analyzed 1139 patients aged 40+ with radiographically confirmed hand OA. Sarcopenia was defined using bioelectrical impedance–derived muscle mass relative to BMI, and pain and function were measured with AUSCAN and DASH. Male patients with lower muscle mass/BMI showed significantly higher DASH and AUSCAN scores; female associations were not significant. The results support muscle preservation in hand OA management.

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CategoryHealthcare

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Archives of Rheumatology 2025;40(4):492-498 DOI: 10.5152/ArchRheumatol.2025.25088 Association of Sarcopenia with Pain and Disability in Hand Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional, Single-Center Study ABSTRACT Background/Aims: Sarcopenia is known to worsen clinical outcomes in osteoarthritis, particularly in weight-bearing joints, yet its relationship with symptom burden in hand osteoarthritis has not been well established. This study explored the relationship between sarcopenia, hand pain, and functional status in patients with hand osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1139 patients aged ≥40 years with radiographically confirmed hand osteoarthritis. Sarcopenia was defined as the ratio of muscle mass to body mass index, measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis. Hand pain and function were assessed using the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaires. Sex-specific multivariable linear regression models were constructed, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle covariates. Results: In males, lower appendicular skeletal muscle mass/body mass index was significantly associated with higher DASH scores (estimate:−10.664, P = .006) . A significant association with higher Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index scores was also observed (estimate: −26 .236, P = .030) . Lower upper-extremity muscle mass/body mass index was likewise associated with higher DASH scores in males (estimate: −41 .074, P =.013) . In females, none of the associations reached statistical significance. Conclusion: These findings suggest that sarcopenia contributes to increased pain and disability in hand osteoarthritis, highlighting the clinical importance of preserving muscle mass in its management. Keywords: Bioelectrical impedance analysis, functional disability, hand osteoarthritis, muscle mass, sarcopenia Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease affecting multiple joints, particularly the knees and hands, and is a leading cause of pain, functional disability, and reduced quality of life in older adults.1,2 The hands are frequently used in daily activities, and degenerative changes accompanied by pain in these joints can significantly impair functional performance.2,3 To assess pain and functional limitations in hand OA, validated instruments such as the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire are commonly used.4 ,5 Although several factors—advanced age, increased body Copyright@Author(s) -[Available online at archivesof rheumatology.com](Available online at archivesof rheumatology.com). Content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 International License. Hanna Lee1,2 Sang-Il Lee3 Yun-Hong Cheon3 Hyunjin Lim3 Ki Soo Park4 Hyun-Ok Kim1,2 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, changwon, South Korea 2Department of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea 3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea 4Department of Preventive Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine Institute of Health Sciences, Jinju, Korea Corresponding author: Hyun-Ok Kim 􀀍 [galleonok@hanmail. net](galleonok@hanmail. net) Received: August 12, 2025 Revision requested: September 6, 2025 Last revision received: September 9, 2025 Accepted: October 20, 2025 Publication Date: December 1, 2025 Cite this article as: Lee H, Lee S-I, Cheon Y-H, et al. Association of sarcopenia with pain and disability in hand osteoarthritis: a retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study. Arch Rheumatol. 2025;40(4):492-498 . 492 Lee et al. Sarcopenia and Hand Osteoarthritis Disa

FAQs

How was sarcopenia defined in the study?

Sarcopenia was defined as the ratio of muscle mass to body mass index measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Which assessment tools were used to evaluate pain and function?

Hand pain and function were assessed with the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.

What were the key findings by sex?

In males, lower muscle mass/body mass index was significantly associated with higher DASH and AUSCAN scores, while none of the associations reached statistical significance in females.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Adam