In this study, a diagnostic model was constructed based on five key autophagy-related genes: PHF23, RAB24, STAT3, TOMM5, and DNAJB9. PHF23 was recently identified as an autophagy inhibitor, and a previous study demonstrated that PHF23 inhibition has therapeutic potential in degenerative joint diseases [32]. This evidence concerns the gene TOMM5 and osteoarthritis.