High blood pressure linked to cartilage degeneration in study

Higher diastolic blood pressure levels (the bottom number) are associated with higher markers of cartilage matrix degeneration in a study in Skeletal Radiology.

Experts investigated the associations of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure with changes in knee cartilage composition and joint structure over 48 months, using magnetic resonance imaging data.

A total of 1,126 people with low levels of knee osteoarthritis had their cartilage composition assessed over four years.

Higher baseline diastolic blood pressure was associated with greater increases of knee cartilage degradation. And higher systolic blood pressure levels (the top number) had a similar although smaller effect. The experts conclude that “higher baseline diastolic blood pressure was associated with higher and more heterogenous cartilage T2 values over 48 months, indicating increased cartilage matrix degenerative changes.”

Click here to read the original findings.

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