Sub-Saharan African Journal of Medicine

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2018  |  Volume : 5  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 52--58

Effect of obesity on self-reported pain and functional disability in patients with knee osteoarthritis in Zaria, North Western Nigeria


AbdulAziz Umar1, Olufemi O Adelowo2, Juliana O Okpapi3, Usman B Omuya4 
1 Senior Lecturer/Consultant Rheumatologist, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State
2 Professor of Medicine/Consultant Rheumatologist, Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna State
3 Professor of Medicine/Consultant Pulmunologist, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State
4 Senior Lecturer/Consultant Radiologist, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State

Correspondence Address:
AbdulAziz Umar
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
Kaduna State

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common causes of arthritis in human, with the knee joint being the most commonly affected. Knee OA patients often present with knee pain and varying degree of functional limitation in activities of daily living. The incidence and prevalence of knee OA increases with age and is poised to increase even further in tandem with an expected increase in life expectancy, rise in population age, and increased prevalence of obesity. Obesity is associated with the occurrence and severity of knee OA, and it is perhaps the most amenable of all knee OA risk factors. The contribution of obesity to pain and functional limitation in Nigerian knee OA patients is not well elucidated. This study aims at ascertaining the burden of obesity in Nigerian knee OA patients with regards to its prevalence, effects on pain, and functional disability. Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and February 2011, 140 consenting knee OA patients were recruited consecutively, as they presented to the Rheumatology Clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Knee OA was diagnosed in patients using American College of Rheumatology clinicoradiographic criteria. Information was collected from patient using a pretested interviewer-administered structured question. Pain, stiffness, and functional disability were determined using Likert version of Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC). Patients were grouped based on body mass index (BMI) into obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m2), and differences in pain intensity and functional disability were compared. Results: One hundred and forty knee OA patients comprised 120 females (85.7%) and 20 males (14.3%), with male–female ratio of 1:6. The mean age of patients was 59.6 ± 8.8 years. The mean BMI was 30.5 (±6.4) kg/m2. Twenty-seven (19.3%) patients had normal body weight, whereas 48.6% were obese. Mean duration of knee pain in patients was 3.5 (±2.9) years. Mean pain score and mean disability scores were 2.17 (±0.7) and 2.02 (±0.89), respectively. The mean pain score was higher in obese patients compared to nonobese (2.4 ± 0.78 vs. 1.93 ± 0.59, P = 0.000), and mean disability score was significantly higher in obese patients compared to nonobese (2.58 ± 0.79 vs. 1.78 ± 0.81, P = 0.000). There was moderate correlation between BMI and pain scores (r = 0.56, P = 0.000) and between BMI and functional disability scores (r = 0.5, P = 0.000). BMI was an independent predictor of functional disability. Conclusion: Pain and functional disability are more severe in obese and overweight knee OA patients compared to those with normal BMI, and obesity is an independent predictor of functional disability.


How to cite this article:
Umar A, Adelowo OO, Okpapi JO, Omuya UB. Effect of obesity on self-reported pain and functional disability in patients with knee osteoarthritis in Zaria, North Western Nigeria.Sub-Saharan Afr J Med 2018;5:52-58


How to cite this URL:
Umar A, Adelowo OO, Okpapi JO, Omuya UB. Effect of obesity on self-reported pain and functional disability in patients with knee osteoarthritis in Zaria, North Western Nigeria. Sub-Saharan Afr J Med [serial online] 2018 [cited 2024 Mar 19 ];5:52-58
Available from: https://www.ssajm.org/article.asp?issn=2384-5147;year=2018;volume=5;issue=2;spage=52;epage=58;aulast=Umar;type=0