The associations between a diagnosis of early-stage knee osteoarthritis and the presence of MRI abnormalities in knees without radiographic osteoarthritis: Data from 1513 knees of the osteoarthritis initiative
Authors' conclusion
In non-radiographic OA knees, CREDO-defined early-stage KOA was associated with higher PRs of OA features on MRI compared with no KOA. Early-stage KOA also showed higher PRs of these features compared with potential early-stage KOA.
Study context
- Population
- Knees without radiographic knee OA (KL-grade <2) with available MRI assessments, Osteoarthritis Initiative
- Participants
- 1,500 knees
- Exposure
- CREDO-defined early-stage knee OA vs potential early-stage knee OA vs no knee OA
- Outcome
- Prevalence of MRI structural abnormalities (cartilage defects, bone marrow lesions (BMLs), meniscal abnormalities, abnormalities in at least one, multiple or all investigated structures), as prevalence risk ratios
Methodological detailsOsteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) data, log binomial regression
- Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) data
- Log binomial regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cartilage defects
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
Early-stage KOAvs Potential early-stage KOA
1.08(0.98–1.19)
- Early-stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA) vs No KOA
- PR 1.37 (95% CI 1.23–1.53)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | PR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| BMLsEarly-stage KOAvs No KOA | 2.38 (1.78–3.19) | |
| BMLsEarly-stage KOAvs Potential early-stage KOA | 1.48 (1.13–1.93) | |
| Meniscal lesionEarly-stage KOAvs No KOA | 1.26 (0.96–1.65) | |
| Meniscal lesionEarly-stage KOAvs Potential early-stage KOA | 1.35 (1.03–1.78) | |
| Meniscal extrusionEarly-stage KOAvs No KOA | 4.53 (2.28–9.01) | |
| Meniscal extrusionEarly-stage KOAvs Potential early-stage KOA | 2.03 (1.11–3.71) | |
| At least one abnormalityEarly-stage KOAvs No KOA | 1.30 (1.19–1.41) | |
| At least one abnormalityEarly-stage KOAvs Potential early-stage KOA | 1.09 (1.01–1.18) | |
| Multiple abnormalitiesEarly-stage KOAvs No KOA | 1.81 (1.48–2.22) | |
| Multiple abnormalitiesEarly-stage KOAvs Potential early-stage KOA | 1.38 (1.14–1.67) | |
| Abnormalities in all investigated structuresEarly-stage KOAvs No KOA | 3.22 (1.92–5.41) | |
| Abnormalities in all investigated structuresEarly-stage KOAvs Potential early-stage KOA | 2.09 (1.28–3.42) | |
| 0.10.31310Prevalence ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
The associations between a diagnosis of early-stage knee osteoarthritis and the presence of MRI abnormalities in knees without radiographic osteoarthritis: Data from 1513 knees of the osteoarthritis initiative. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 28 February 2026. doi:10.
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