Increased BMI, poor glycemic control and smoking may increase knee pain in osteoarthritis

They performed a retrospective cross‐sectional study of the NHANES database from 1999 to 2004. The main outcome was any knee pain and bilateral knee pain. Main effects of interest were body mass index (BMI), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). They additionally assessed various patient factors including age, race, poverty, gender and smoking status. Multivariable logistic regression models and interaction terms were analyzed.

In the research Data on 12,900 patients was included. In the main adjusted analysis, the modifiable risk factors associated with any knee pain were: overweight (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85, 0.97), obesity (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.42, 1.66), glycemic control (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.03, 1.38), and current smokers (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.05, 1.27), all p<0.05. These same factors remain significant for bilateral knee pain. Subgroup analysis showed patients under 65 years old have a 5% increase in risk of any knee pain as their body mass index increases, but patients 65 years and older have a 10% increase in risk.

The researchers concluded that this study confirms the association of knee pain with increased weight, glycemic control, current smoking and age. Most of these risk factors can be modified in patients with knee pain and should be discussed when providing conservative treatment options.

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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acr.24423