Pain Symptoms and Self-Reported Physical Function in Older, Overweight, and Obese Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of chronic pain, functional limitation, and physical disability among older adults. Being overweight or obese may exacerbate pain symptoms and the risk of functional decline among knee OA patients (5, 7, 14). However, it has yet to be determined if risk of functional decline and inactivity differs as a function of weight status among older, knee OA patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine differences in self-reported pain symptoms and physical function among overweight, obese, and morbidly obese older adults with knee OA. METHODS: Seventy-one (58 women and 13 men; M age = 63 years) knee OA patients classified as overweight (n=21), obese (n=36) or morbidly obese (n=14) completed assessments of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis scale. RESULTS: Results of univariate ANCOVA analyses controlling for age revealed that morbidly obese participants reported worse pain (p < 0.01) and greater functional disability (p < 0.01) when compared with overweight and obese counterparts. No significant differences were observed for pain or functional disability, between participants classified as obese or overweight. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that pain and risk for physical disability increases as a function of weight status among older knee OA patients. Morbidly obese patients demonstrated the least favorable pain outcomes and greatest functional disability. Collectively, the present findings indicate the benefits of lower weight for both mobility self-efficacy and objective functional performance among older adults with knee OA. Supported by NIH/NIAMS Grant R21 AR054595Supported by NIH/NIAMS Grant R21 AR054595No embarg