Title:Does Metabolic Syndrome or its Individual Components Affect Pain and Function in Knee Osteoarthritis Women?
VOLUME: 11 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Fatima E. Abourazzak, Sofia Talbi, Faiza Lazrak, Hamida Azzouzi, Nassia Aradoini, Salia Keita, Mourad Errasfa and Taoufik Harzy
Affiliation:Rheumatology Department, Hassan II University Hospital, Fez, Morocco.
Keywords:Functional disability, knee osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome, pain.
Abstract:Background: Current studies and research support the role of metabolic syndrome (MetS)
in knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, few studies have focused on its impact on knee OA parameters.
The aim of this study was to investigate if metabolic syndrome or its individual components affect the
intensity of pain, functional disability, and radiographic severity in knee osteoarthritis women.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study including confirmed radiographic knee
osteoarthritis according to Kellgren and Lawrence scale, with and without metabolic syndrome according to the National
Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The two groups were compared for pain Visual Analogue
Scale (VAS), Lequesne index, Womac function, and radiological grade after adjusting for significant covariates.
Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the independent effects of each specific component for metabolic syndrome
on knee osteoarthritis parameters.
Results: One hundred thirty women were included. The mean age was 56.68 ±8.07 [34-75] years, and the mean BMI was
32.54±2.92 [23-37] kg/m2. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 48.5%. Women with and without metabolic syndrome
had similar knee osteoarthritis parameters. However, accumulation of MetS components was associated with
higher level of pain (OR = 3.7, CI = [1.5-5.9], p=0.001), independently of age and BMI. Multiple regression analyses
showed, after adjusting for all covariates, that hyperglycemia had a positive impact on pain (p=0.009), waist circumference
was positively associated with Lequesne index (p=0.04), high triglycerides level was significantly associated with
increased pain (p=0.04) and higher Lequesne score (p=0.05), and Systolic blood pressure was positively correlated with
Lequesne index (p=0.01).
Conclusion: In addition to weight reduction, appropriate treatment of metabolic syndrome needs to become an important
management strategy for knee pain and functional impairment.
