Smoking is associated with increased cartilage loss and persistence of bone marrow lesions over 2 years in community-based individuals.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether smoking is related to change in tibial and patella cartilage, and the development or persistence of bone marrow lesions (BMLs) over 2 years in a cohort of middle-aged adults. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-one adult subjects recruited from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study underwent an MRI of their dominant knee at baseline and approximately 2 years later. Cartilage volume and BMLs were determined for both time points. At baseline, subjects also completed a questionnaire about current and past cigarette smoking. RESULTS: Being a 'smoker' (former or current) was associated with increased annual loss of medial but not lateral or patella cartilage volume..