Association of body mass index and waist circumference with severity of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumfe rence (WC) with the radiographic severity of knee osteoar thritis (rKOA) Methods: A cross-sectional study had been applied during this research which included 150 patients diagnosed at the General Hospital in Užice and Health Center in Arilje (Serbia). The study included patients over the age of 50, diagnosed with OA according to The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Data on social-demographic characteristics, health habits, and personal and family histories of the partici - pants were collected through a specific questionnaire designated for this research. The severity of the disease was assessed pursuant to radiological changes using the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale (K-L). The state of nou - rishment was assessed according to the BMI and WC. Results: According to multivariate logistic regression analyses, after adjustment for age, sex, marital status, formal education, present occupation, smoking, al - cohol consumption and physical activity; higher grades of rKOA (grade III and grade IV) were significantly related to BMI (p = 0.038) and WC (p < 0.001). The association was much stronger for obesity defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (p = 0.002) and for abdominal obesity - WC > 102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women (p = 0.009). Conclusion: This study showed that obesity defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity are strongly related to K-L of rKOA, with the associations being of very similar extent.