Biomedical subjects

Mikko Haara

Publications and source records attributed to Mikko Haara.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Low metacarpal index predicts hip fracture: a prospective population study of 3,561 subjects with 15 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Metacarpal index (MCI), measured from hand radiographs as the ratio between combined cortical thickness and bone diameter, has been suggested for assessment of bone mass and risk of osteoporotic fracture. We studied MCI for its ability to predict hip fractures. METHODS: Hand radiographs were taken and MCI determined in 3,561 subjects from a representative population sample of 8,000 Finns who were 30 years of age or over in 1978-80. Record linkage to the National Hospital Discharge Register identified 117 subjects who had been hospitalized for primary treatment of hip fracture by the end of 1994. RESULTS: High age, low body mass index, tall stature and smoking at baseline showed, independently of each other, significant associations with low MCI. Low MCI was a strong predictor of hip fracture. When adjusted for all potential confounding factors, the relative risk of hip fracture per decrement of MCI by one standard deviation (0.1) was 1.5 (95% CI 1.2-1.8). INTERPRETATION: Low MCI is associated with known risk factors of osteoporosis and predicts hip fracture. Since hand radiographs are easily available at low cost, measurements of MCI can be used as an alternative approach to find osteoporotic individuals with a high risk of hip fracture.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2004

Physical function in men with and without hip osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the subjective joint pain and function and the objective physical function of lower extremities in men with hip osteoarthritis (OA), to compare the results with those from age- and sex-matched controls, and to evaluate the reproducibility of the functional tests. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Rehabilitation clinic in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven volunteer men (age range, 47-64 y) with hip OA and 30 randomly selected, healthy age-matched men. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index, passive range of motion (ROM) of the hip joint measured with a standard goniometer, and physical functioning evaluated with a test battery. RESULTS: The function and the composite scores of the WOMAC correlated (P<.05) with the degree of radiographically estimated severity of OA. The hips of the control subjects were 13% to 52% more flexible (P range, <.0001-.001) than those of the OA patients. The more the hip was deteriorated, the lower the ROM of the hip was in abduction and in both internal and external rotations. The reproducibility of marching on-the-spot and walking up and down stairs was good in both groups, but in other functional tests the reproducibility was poorer. The controls were significantly (P range, <.05-.01) better at marching, ascending and descending stairs, performing a 25-m walk, and in flexion-extension and abduction-adduction movements compared with the hip OA patients. Most of the WOMAC items were significantly (P<.05) related to the performance tests. CONCLUSIONS: The WOMAC and the ROM can be considered useful hip OA indicators. Marching on-the-spot and walking up and down stairs are the most reproducible physical functioning tests and can thus be recommended for use for patients with hip OA.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

PubMed2002

Hip muscle strength and muscle cross sectional area in men with and without hip osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the hip muscle strength and cross sectional area (CSA) in men with hip osteoarthritis (OA) compared to age and sex matched healthy controls. METHODS: Based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria regarding classification of hip OA, 27 men (aged 47-64 yrs) with unilateral or bilateral hip OA and 30 age matched randomly selected healthy male controls were studied. The maximal isometric hip abductor, adductor, flexor, and extensor strength (Nm) at 0 degree of hip flexion in the supine position was determined with a dynamometer. The isokinetic hip flexion and extension strength (peak torque, Nm) was determined using angular velocities of 60 degrees /s and 120 degrees /s. The subjective severity of hip pain was rated by visual analog scale prior to the muscle strength test. CSA of the pelvic and thigh muscles was measured from magnetic resonance images. RESULTS: The reliability of intraclass correlation coefficients for repeated measures of muscle strength varied from 0.70 to 0.94 in controls and from 0.84 to 0.98 in subjects with OA. Hip isometric adductor and abductor strength was 25% and 31% lower (p < 0.001) in OA subjects than in controls, respectively. The hip isometric and isokinetic flexion strength was 18-22% lower (p < 0.01) in OA subjects than in controls, but extension strength did not differ between groups. In OA subjects, the hip flexion and extension isometric and isokinetic strength values were 13-22% lower (p < 0.05) on the more deteriorated side compared to the better side. CSA of the pelvic and thigh muscles did not differ between the groups. However, in OA subjects, the CSA of the pelvic and thigh muscles was 6-13% less (p < 0.05 to < 0.001) on the more severely affected hip compared to the better hip. CONCLUSION: Men with hip OA have significantly lower abduction, adduction, and flexion muscle strength than controls. The decrease of muscle size and hip pain may contribute to the decrease of muscle strength in hip OA. Other possible underlying causes of the muscle weakness need to be studied.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗