Obesity associated low back pain and knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional hospital-based study

Background: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of diseases, including low back pain and knee osteoarthritis.  Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted at the surgical outpatient department (SOPD) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, from October to December 2024. Data collection was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire and a face-to-face interview, following the random selection of patients. Data comprises demographics and variables such as height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), presence or absence of low back pain (LBP), and presence or absence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The BMI was obtained from the patient’s weight and height, and it was categorised into either normal (< 29.9kg/m2) or obese (> 30kg/m2).  Results: The mean age of presentation was 46.49±14.23, and the most frequent age range was 40-59 years (48.2%). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.02. The majority of the study subjects 78 (46.4%) were unemployed, with 61 (73.5%) being female. There were 73 (43.4%) obese subjects and 95 (56.5%) non-obese subjects. Those who presented with LBP were 75 (44.6%), KOA were 71 (42.3%), and those with both LBP and KOA were 30 (17.9%). Presence of obesity was statistically significant for females (p = 0.002; OR = 2.67), those with LBP (p = 0.007; OR = 2.299), KOA (p = 0.0001; OR = 3.43), and for the presence of both LBP and KOA (p = 0.001; OR = 3.86).  Conclusions: The study findings are consistent with a high prevalence of low back pain and knee osteoarthritis among the obese subjects. Weight reduction improves symptoms and reduces the risk of complications.