Prevalence and association of Obesity and Knee Pain among women of Karachi

Abstract

Background: Knee pain is more prevalent among adult women and is linked to central obesity, which is marked by an accumulation of excess abdominal fat.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and association of central obesity and knee pain among women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study with ethical approval number - 2023/78. SBBDU/DIRS was conducted from May 2023 to September 2023 and consisted of participants from Government Hospitals and Educational Institutes of Karachi Sindh, Pakistan. Data was collected from the sample of 150 women, included through convenient sampling technique. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Numeric Pain Rating Scale was used to collect data regarding knee pain whereas central obesity was determined by measuring waist circumference.

Results: Of the total 150 participants, 63.3 % had knee pain during the last 12 months and 36.7 % women has functional limitations due to knee pain, while 63.3 % women reported no activity limitation due to knee pain. Additionally, 43.3 % women had knee pain during last 7 days, with 36% describing the pain as moderate. A significant negative association was found between waist circumference and knee pain over the last 12 months (p = 0.003) and the last 7 days (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The study highlights a high prevalence of knee pain among women in Karachi, with many reporting knee pain over the past year. A significant negative association was observed between central obesity and knee pain, indicating that as waist circumference increases, knee pain tends to decrease.