New knee joint, fewer heart problems
Luise Heine has been an editor at since 2012. The qualified biologist studied in Regensburg and Brisbane (Australia) and gained experience as a journalist in television, in the Ratgeber-Verlag and in a print magazine. In addition to her work at , she also writes for children, for example for the Stuttgarter Kinderzeitung, and has her own breakfast blog, “Kuchen zum Frühstück”.
More posts by Luise Heine All content is checked by medical journalists.MunichFinally walking painlessly again - a new knee joint significantly extends the range of motion for people with severe knee osteoarthritis. But the procedure is also worthwhile for heart health.
The knee is heavily stressed throughout its life. This tears at the cartilage buffer in the joint. With increasing joint wear, running becomes more and more arduous. At the beginning the pain is stopped with painkillers, but later on an artificial knee joint may be necessary. The procedure not only makes the patient more mobile again, the heart also benefits from the “new” knee, according to the results of a study from Taiwan.
44 percent fewer heart problems
Researchers from various universities had taken a closer look at the data from the national health insurance system. They selected the information from over 22,000 people who were over 40 years old and suffered from knee osteoarthritis. About 15,000 of them had surgery, the rest not. The patient's health was monitored over a period of three years. The scientists were particularly interested in whether the test subjects had heart problems - after three years this was the case in a total of 2,250 people.
The subsequent mathematical calculations showed that those who had their knee straightened also had to reckon with fewer cardiovascular problems afterwards. Overall, the risk of this was reduced by 44 percent.
Lively heart
The researchers suspect that the newly acquired mobility also gets the heart going. Because an active lifestyle is an important measure to keep your heart and circulation fit. But it is also conceivable that it is good for the pumping organ if someone has to swallow less painkillers. Last but not least, the operation also alleviates psychosocial stress - for example, because the new mobility means that people can participate more in social life again.
OP also carries risks
With their study results, the Taiwanese confirm a similar study with a significantly lower number of subjects that came from Canada a few years ago. Nevertheless, this does not mean, conversely, that everyone with knee osteoarthritis should go under the knife - especially if the conservative treatment options have not yet been fully exhausted. Because such an operation also carries risks, for example nerves or vessels can be injured. Before someone decides on an intervention, the costs and benefits should therefore be carefully weighed and, if necessary, a second opinion should be obtained.
Source: Wen-Yan Lin et al. Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty Have a Lower Risk of Subsequent Severe Cardiovascular Events: Propensity Score and Instrumental Variable Analysis; PLOS; May 2015; DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0127454
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