Chronic knee osteoarthritis: Relationships of body mass index and selected psychosocial factors among Nigerians.
Adesola Odole, Ezinne Ekediegwu, E N D Ekechukwu
PMID 37560173WHAT IT FOUND
Among Nigerians with chronic knee osteoarthritis, higher BMI was linked to more pain catastrophizing and lower confidence in managing arthritis, but not to fear of movement.
These are links measured at one time, not proof that weight loss changes these factors.
Key findings
01Higher BMI was associated with more pain catastrophizing and lower self-efficacy, but not with fear of movement.
02In the regression model, pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy were associated with BMI, while fear of movement was not.
03The sample had an average BMI of 30.60 kg/m2, and 62 of the 77 participants were women.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study measured relationships at one time, so it cannot show that BMI causes pain catastrophizing, low self-efficacy, or fear of movement. The sample was 77 patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis from Nigerian hospitals, so it may not apply to other settings or to people with other knee problems. The authors describe most correlations as weak and note the BMI-pain catastrophizing relationship may be clinically insignificant. No intervention was tested, so the study cannot show that weight loss or psychosocial treatment changes outcomes.
Declared interests
None declared; no external funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these results as proof that losing weight will reduce pain catastrophizing or improve self-efficacy. The study measured relationships at one time and did not test a weight-loss intervention.