Abstract
Studies have shown that osteoarthritis (OA) is highly associated with obesity, and individuals clinically defined as obese (BMI > 30.0 kg/m2) are four times more likely to have knee OA over the general population. The purpose of this research was to examine if isolated weight loss improved knee symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis. Adult patients (n = 24; age 18–70; BMI > 35 kg/m2) with clinical and radiographic evidence of knee OA participated in a one-year trial in which WOMAC and KOOS surveys were administered at a presurgery baseline and six and twelve months postsurgery. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests. Weight loss six and twelve months following bariatric surgery was statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared to presurgery measurements. All variables from both KOOS and WOMAC assessments were significantly improved (P < 0.05) when compared to baseline. Isolated weight loss occurring via bariatric surgery resulted in statistically significant improvement in patient's knee arthritis symptoms at both six and twelve months. Further research will need to be done to determine if symptom relief continues over time, and if the benefits are also applicable to individuals with symptomatic knee arthritis that are overweight but not obese.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the five leading causes of disability among elderly men and women in the United States [1]
Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for the development of knee OA, and population studies show that the increased incidence of obesity in the USA has correlated with a similar rise in knee osteoarthritis
We have demonstrated that isolated weight loss occurring via bariatric surgery has resulted in statistically significant improvement in patient’s knee arthritis symptoms at both six and twelve months following bariatric surgery
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the five leading causes of disability among elderly men and women in the United States [1]. In 2008, an estimated 36 million ambulatory care visits were reported due to knee-related complaints [2], while from 1995–2005 the number of individuals with OA increased by approximately six million. Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for the development of knee OA, and population studies show that the increased incidence of obesity in the USA has correlated with a similar rise in knee osteoarthritis. In 2005-2006 more than 33% of the USA population was obese [4, 5], a dramatic increase from 1980 when estimates were near 15%. Even at the upper level of a normal BMI, (22–25 kg/m2), there has been shown to be an increased risk in developing medial compartment and patellofemoral knee OA [7]
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