[Osteoarthrosis of the knee joints in climacteric women with excessive body weight or obesity].

The purpose of the study was to evaluate body weight (BW) effect on the frequency and clinical manifestations of knee joint osteoarthrosis (KJOA) in climacteric women with excessive BW or obesity. The subjects of this case control study were divided into three groups: group 1 consisted of 283 climacteric women with normal BW; group 2 consisted of 283 women with excessive BW; 283 obese women constituted group 3. All the three groups were comparable by age and menopause duration. The diagnosis of KJOA was established according to American Rheumatology Association criteria. Joint pain intensity was assessed using 100-mm visual analog scale. Lequesne algofunctional index was used to determine functional limitations. Lipid and carbohydrate exchange parameters were studied as well. The frequency of KJOA was significantly higher in group 2 (47.3%) and group 3 (56.1%) vs. group 1 (39.9%). Abdominal obesity was significantly more frequent in patients with KJOA (32.2%). Obesity was associated with an increased risk of KJOA (relative risk = 1.91; 95% confidence interval = 1.37-2.67), but not other variants of osteoarthrosis. Thus, in Russian population of climacteric women the frequency of KJOA was significantly higher in those with excessive body weight or obesity vs. women with normal body weight. Abdominal obesity was found to be an independent risk factor of KJOA, but not other localizations of osteoarthrosis.