Hip Osteoarthritis Progression Evaluation (HOPE) Study
Using MRI to determine the link between femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
and hip osteoarthritis.
The Problem
One of the potentially modifiable risk factors for hip osteoarthritis is a condition called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI occurs when extra bone grows along one, or both, of the bones that form the hip joint. This causes the bones to fit together imperfectly and creates extra friction that may worsen with certain physical activities and lead to osteoarthritis in the hip joint.
The Solution
The link between FAI and developing hip osteoarthritis needs to be better understood. In order to prevent hip osteoarthritis, we need to know whether, and which type of physical activity leads to osteoarthritis in people who have FAI
What the Study will do
This study will examine the link between FAI and the risk of developing future hip osteoarthritis, and how different types of physical activity modify that risk.
The Research Study
We will re-evaluate 182 people who participated in our prior study, seven years ago, with and without femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and with and without hip pain. We will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the cartilage, bones and other tissues in the hip. People will also complete detailed hip health questionnaires, receive hip x-rays, and have blood and urine samples taken for testing blood markers of early osteoarthritis.
Our goals are to determine whether people with FAI, compared to those without FAI, are at greater risk of developing osteoarthritis on MRI. We are also interested in evaluating whether different types of physical activity, alone or in combination with FAI, predict who gets early hip osteoarthritis.
Research Scientist
Jolanda Cibere, Rheumatology, MD, FRCPC, PhD
Senior Scientist
After completing her medical and internal medicine training at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Cibere completed her clinical rheumatology training at the University of British Columbia. She also trained in the University of British Columbia ‘s Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, completed a doctoral program focusing on osteoarthritis, and was awarded an MRC (now CIHR) Clinician Scientist Fellowship award for her studies.
Dr. Cibere pioneered a study on the current use of glucosamine sulfate by osteoarthritis sufferers, the results of which have been widely disseminated to consumers across North America. The 24-week study involving 137 subjects in four Canadian centres, all of who were using glucosamine at the start of the study, found no evidence of benefit from continued use of glucosamine.
