Are your patients with osteoarthritis also living with obesity?
Learn about the connection between this common comorbidity for your patients with obesity and how it can affect their health.
Patients with obesity are associated with an increased risk of knee OA1
The damaging impact of obesity on OA may be due to mechanical stress and other factors2,3
Mechanical stress
- Structural damage
- Abnormal cell activities
- Inflammation of synovial membrane
Metabolic impact through the functions of adipokines
- Additional inflammation
- Cartilage degeneration
- Bone remodeling
A meta-analysis of patients with OA showed that obesity is associated with greater pain, long-term disability, and complications following hip or knee arthroplasty.4
Increased BMI can mean an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis5
A population-based cohort study involving data from approximately 1.7 million Spanish adults, at least 40 years of age, over a median of about 4.5 years. The study aimed to analyze the effect of overweight and obesity on the incidence of diagnosed knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis.5
BRING OBESITY TO THE FOREFRONT
WITH YOUR PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS
With a 5% to 10% weight loss, knee functionality, speed, walking distance, and pain can improve.6*
*Knee MRI and X-ray findings do not change after weight loss.
BMI, body mass index; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; OA, osteoarthritis.
DISEASE PROGRESSION
Obesity is caused by a range of factors7,8
INITIATING A PLAN
Patients may be waiting for health care professionals to discuss weight management
References:
1. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al; Reviewers of the AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(suppl 3):1-203.
2. Chen L, Zheng JJY, Li G, et al. Pathogenesis and clinical management of obesity-related knee osteoarthritis: impact of mechanical loading. J Orthop Translat. 2020;24:66-75.
3. Xie C, Chen Q. Adipokines: new therapeutic target for osteoarthritis? Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2019;21(12):71.
4. Pozzobon D, Ferreira PH, Blyth FM, Machado GC, Ferreira ML. Can obesity and physical activity predict outcomes of elective knee or hip surgery due to osteoarthritis? A meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ Open. 2018;8(2):e017689.
5. Reyes C, Leyland KM, Peat G, Cooper C, Arden NK, Prieto-Alhambra D. Association between overweight and obesity and risk of clinically diagnosed knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis: a population-based cohort study. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016;68(8):1869-1875.
6. Ryan DH, Yockey SR. Weight loss and improvement in comorbidity: differences at 5%, 10%, 15% and over. Curr Obes Rep. 2017;6(2):187-194.
7. Lee A, Cardel M, Donahoo WT. Social and environmental factors influencing obesity. Updated October 12, 2019. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt BB, Blackman MR, et al eds. Endotext. [Internet]. South Dartmouth, MA: MDText.com; 2000. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278977/
8. Thaker VV. Genetic and epigenetic causes of obesity. Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2017;28(2):379-405.
