PEOPLE living with asthma may face a significantly higher risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA), particularly if they also experience social isolation or loneliness, according to a major UK Biobank study.
Researchers followed 448,920 individuals without OA at baseline for a median of 12.5 years. During this period, over 57,000 participants developed incident osteoarthritis. The study found that asthma was associated with a 32% higher risk of developing OA overall, with increased risks for knee, hip, and hand OA. The association was strongest for hand OA, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.62.
Crucially, the study revealed that social isolation and loneliness significantly amplified this association. Participants with asthma and high levels of social isolation were at greater risk of OA than those with stronger social connections, suggesting a potential interaction between respiratory health, emotional wellbeing, and joint health.
Notably, asthma emerged as a stronger predictor of OA than traditional lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and diet.
These findings underscore the need for clinicians to consider both physical and psychosocial factors in managing patients with asthma. Early OA screening and interventions targeting social connection may benefit those at heightened risk.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Wu Z et al. Asthma, social isolation and loneliness, and risk of incident osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2025;DOI: 10.1186/s13075-025-03496-w.
