Women Lose Knee Cartilage Faster Than Men Do

Women have higher risk for osteoarthritis than men do; moreover, women who have knee osteoarthritis sustain greater cartilage loss than do men with knee osteoarthritis. To determine whether differences in cartilage health distinguish men and women with no clinical evidence of knee osteoarthritis, researchers in Australia compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in 169 women and 102 men (all white).

All participants underwent MRI at baseline and at a mean of 2.3 years later to measure knee cartilage volume and to detect defects at tibiofemoral and patellar sites. Men were substantially older than women (mean age, 60 vs. 57). However, in analysis adjusted for age, height, weight, and baseline total bone area, women lost four times mor…