Abstract
This study investigated the effect of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) on arterial stiffness in patients with severe osteoarthritis (OA) compared to non-OA controls. A prospective cohort of 70 severe OA patients undergoing TJA (mean age 62 ± 7) and 82 age- and sex-matched controls without OA was followed over seven years. Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), augmentation index (AIx), and central and peripheral haemodynamic parameters were measured using applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor) at baseline and follow-up. At baseline, the aPWV was significantly higher in the TJA group (p = 0.023). Over seven years, aPWV increased significantly in the control group, eliminating the between-group difference (9.3 ± 0.3 m/s in TJA vs. 9.3 ± 0.2 m/s in controls, p = 0.939). AIx was initially similar between groups, but was significantly lower in the TJA group at follow-up (p = 0.005). The increase in central diastolic blood pressure was also significantly smaller in the TJA group (p = 0.008). These results indicate that TJA may slow the progression of arterial stiffness and reduce central haemodynamic changes in severe OA patients compared to the general population.