Several forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA), are associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD). In spite of the high prevalence of both OA and TMJD, few studies have investigated overlap in risk factors. The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) is a national, prospective, community-based study designed to identify biomarkers for the development and progression of knee OA. We evaluated pain phenotype in a sample of the OAI cohort to establish the relationship of knee OA with self-reported facial pain and RDC/TMD. classification.
Method:
A convenience sample of the University of Maryland OAI cohort was examined using modified RDC-TMD methods, including evaluation for tender points and pain pressure thresholds (PPTs). Subjects also completed questionnaires related to facial and other pain symptoms.
Result:
The sample was comprised of 101 subjects with equal numbers of mean and women and an overall mean age of 86.9 years (+/- 8.7 SD). There were no differences in age distribution between genders or in classification of facial pain using modified RDC/TMD criteria. 35% of the sample was classified with TMJD with more women than men meeting criteria (P = 0.02). Number of tender points did not differ between sexes, but were increased in those with facial pain using binary RDC/TMD classification (P = 0.001). Women had significantly lower PPTs than did men for all anatomic areas tested, except the temporalis (P = 0.07). Subjects with a positive RDC/TMD classification also had significantly lower PPTs for all sites tested.
Conclusion:
Characteristics for TMJD as reported in the literature are similar to this cohort with or at risk for knee OA.