Osteoarthritis of knees and obesity in Eastern Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To find out the prevalence and relation between osteoarthritis of knees and obesity in Al-Ahsa region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

METHODS: The study included 243 male and female patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis of knees between June 2001 to March 2003. All patients were recruited from the Physical Therapy Department, King Fahd Hofuf Hospital, Hofuf, KSA. The clinical diagnosis was supported by plain x-rays of knees, and of other joint if needed. The weight and height of all patients were taken using one standard weight and height scale, and body mass index was also calculated and recorded.

RESULTS: More than 90.53% of the patients referred with osteoarthritis of the knees were obese or overweight. The mean body weight of all patients was 84.61 kg and the mean height was 1.59 meters. Osteoarthritis of the knees was more common in obese female than male patients with a female to male ratio of 2.37:1.

CONCLUSION: Obesity is a disease. The aim of all health professionals and others in the community should be directed to the prevention of this disease and its risk to develop multiple complications.