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Overweight and health problems of the lower extremities: osteoarthritis, pain and disability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2008

A Tukker ,
TLS Visscher  and
HSJ Picavet
A Tukker
Affiliation:
Centre for Prevention and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
TLS Visscher
Affiliation:
Centre for Prevention and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
HSJ Picavet*
Affiliation:
Centre for Prevention and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
*
*Corresponding author: Email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Aim

To examine the association between overweight and health problems of the lower extremities, i.e. osteoarthritis (OA), pain and disability.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from the Dutch population-based Musculoskeletal Conditions & Consequences Cohort (DMC3), comprising a random sample from the Dutch population aged >25 years (n 3664), were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. Overweight was defined as BMI ≥ 25·0 kg/m2, moderate overweight as 25·0 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30·0 kg/m2 and obesity as BMI ≥ 30·0 kg/m2. Health problems of the lower extremities were: (i) self-reported OA of the hip or knee as told by a doctor; (ii) presence of self-reported chronic pain (>3 months) of the lower extremities; and (iii) disabilities in mobility as measured by the Euroqol questionnaire (EQ-5D).

Results

Moderate overweight was associated with self-reported OA of the hip or knee (OR = 1·7; 95 % CI 1·4, 2·1), chronic pain of the lower extremities at one or more location(s) (OR = 1·6; 95 % CI 1·3, 1·9) and disability in mobility (OR = 1.7; 95 % CI 1·4, 2·0). For obesity these odds were higher: 2·8 (95 % CI 2·1, 3·7), 2·5 (95 % CI 1·9, 3·2) and 3·0 (95 % CI 2·3, 3·9), respectively. Also, among those with OA, moderate overweight and obesity were associated with disability in mobility.

Conclusion

There is a strong association between overweight/obesity and health problems of the lower extremities, i.e. OA, pain and disability. The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide urges for public health action not only for diabetes and heart disease, but also OA.

Keywords

OverweightOsteoarthritisDisabilityKnee painHip painDMC3 studyEQ-5DQuality of life
Type
Research Paper
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , March 2009 , pp. 359 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2008

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