Low birth weight impacts on future hip osteoarthritis and replacements

New research suggests that low birth weight and preterm birth may be risk factors for hip osteoarthritis that requires replacement surgery, scientists outline in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

A review of the evidence found a causal link between low birth weight or preterm birth and hip osteoarthritis. Of the 30,477 total hip replacements performed for hip osteoarthritis in Australia in 2015, 5,791 were estimated to be born preterm and 5,273 with low birth weight

“Available data suggest that low birth weight and preterm birth are associated with hip bone shape abnormalities and hip osteoarthritis requiring total hip arthroplasty, with a substantial associated financial burden,” the researchers explain. “This has the potential to change the current paradigm of hip osteoarthritis prevention by targeting early life factors.”

Click here to read the original research.

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