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Associations between measures of adiposity over 10 years and patella cartilage in population-based asymptomatic women

International Journal of Obesity volume 37, pages 1586–1589 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Osteoarthritis (OA) most commonly affects the patellofemoral compartment of the knee, and is a major cause of pain and disability. Structural changes that evolve prior to the onset of symptoms can be visualised using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There is little known information about the role of adiposity on the early structural changes in the patella cartilage in younger, asymptomatic adult females.

Methods:

One hundred and sixty asymptomatic women (20–49 years) participating in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study underwent knee MRI (2006–8). Weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured 10 years prior (1994–7, baseline) and at the time of MRI (current), with change over the period calculated (current–baseline). Relationships between measures of adiposity and patella cartilage volume and defects were examined.

Results:

After adjustment for age and patella bone volume, there was a reduction of 13 ml (95% confidence interval (95% CI), −25.7, −0.55) in patella cartilage volume for every 1 unit increase in current BMI, and a reduction of 27 ml (95% CI −52.6, −1.5) per BMI unit increase over 10 years (P=0.04 for both). No significant association was observed between baseline BMI and patella cartilage volume (P=0.16). Increased baseline and current weight and BMI were associated with increased prevalence of patella cartilage defects (all P<0.001).

Conclusions:

Adiposity and weight gain during midlife are associated with detrimental structural change at the patella in young to middle-aged healthy non-osteoarthritic women. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding weight gain in younger asymptomatic women may be important in the prevention of patellofemoral OA.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (251638, 436665), the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, LEW Carty Foundation and Arthritis Australia. AJ Gunardi is an Indonesian Honours student of Bachelor of Medical Science from Monash University (23554118). SL Brennan is the recipient of an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (1012472). AE Wluka is the recipient of an NHMRC Clinical Career Development Award (545876). We thank the participants who made this study possible and the MRI technicians at Barwon Medical Imaging, Barwon Health for their support in imaging the participants.

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The funding bodies had no role in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    A J Gunardi, Y Wang, F M Cicuttini & A E Wluka

  2. Department of Medicine, NorthWest Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia

    S L Brennan, J A Pasco & M A Kotowicz

  3. Epidemiology Unit for Musculoskeletal and Metabolic Disorders, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

    S L Brennan, J A Pasco & M A Kotowicz

  4. Department of Medicine, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, NorthWest Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia

    S L Brennan

  5. Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

    G C Nicholson

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  1. A J Gunardi
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  8. A E Wluka
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Correspondence to A E Wluka.

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Gunardi, A., Brennan, S., Wang, Y. et al. Associations between measures of adiposity over 10 years and patella cartilage in population-based asymptomatic women. Int J Obes 37, 1586–1589 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.42

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