Oxidative Stress in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases: A Meta‐Analysis
Cong Lu, Jie Wei, Chao Zeng, Guanghua Lei, Yilun Wang, Ning WangBackground
Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) impose substantial burdens, while effective prevention and management remain limited by an incomplete understanding of their underlying mechanisms. Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation are central features of many RMDs, and oxidative stress has been implicated in these processes. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent associations between oxidative stress and RMDs. We conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate the association between the level of nucleic acid damage caused by oxidative stress (NA‐OXS) markers and RMDs.
Methods
Systematic searches of PubMed and Embase (up to July 13, 2023) identified observational studies on oxidative stress and RMDs. NA‐OXS markers were used to measure the level of oxidative stress. The primary outcome was the standardized mean difference (SMD) in the level of oxidative stress between individuals with RMDs and controls.
Results
A total of 79 studies, involving 4076 individuals with RMDs and 3686 controls across 24 RMDs, were included. Overall, a significant increase in the level of oxidative stress was found in individuals with RMDs compared with controls (SMD = 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72–1.05). An increased level of oxidative stress was observed among most diseases, with SMDs ranging from 0.48 (95% CI: 0.14–0.83) for systemic sclerosis to 1.14 (95% CI: 0.82–1.46) for rheumatoid arthritis, but not for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Conclusions
This meta‐analysis identified an association between elevated oxidative stress level and RMDs, supporting further research into disease mechanisms and management strategies.