Exploration of the association between estimated glucose disposal rate and osteoarthritis in middle-aged and older adults: An analysis of NHANES data from 2011 to 2018

Background It is unclear how the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) index relates to osteoarthritis (OA). The goal of this research is to explore the possible link between the eGDR index and the likelihood of OA development. Methods The study encompassed 9,051 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2018). Participants were divided into quartiles according to their eGDR, calculated with the equation: eGDR (mg/kg/min) = 21.158 - (0.09 x waist circumference) - (3.407 x hypertension) - (0.551 x glycosylated hemoglobin). We assessed the independent correlation between the eGDR metric and the incidence of OA through weighted multivariate regression, stratified analysis, and threshold effect evaluation. Results The study encompassed 9,051 participants, who had an average eGDR of 7.09. Participants with OA had lower eGDR levels compared to those without OA (6.27 +/- 0.09 vs 7.31 +/- 0.06, P < 0.001). The odds ratios (ORs) for OA associated with the eGDR index in the logistic regression models were 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84, 0.89) in the unadjusted model I and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.91) in model II (adjusted for all covariates). Higher eGDR index was associated with a reduced risk of OA when compared to the lowest quartile (Q1). A restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a linear negative relationship between eGDR and OA risk. Conclusion An increased eGDR index is inversely related to the risk of OA. The eGDR may serve as a valuable biomarker for the detection of OA and offers a new perspective for the assessment and management of the condition.