Obesity and osteoarthrosis: a retrospective study in a Saudi Arabia primary health care centre

During a period of 18 months, 168 men and women presenting to the primary health care centre of King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, were studied retrospectively to determine whether a correlation existed between osteoarthrosis of the hips and/or knees and obesity. A similar number of matched controls were included for comparison. The correlation between osteoarthrosis and obesity in the study population, as determined by the Quetelet index of body mass, was significant. The occurrence of osteoarthrosis as a complication of obesity is inferred, and measures taken to reduce obesity in the community may help lessen this disability

Osteoarthrosis of the knee in a Saudi Arabian population

A prospective study was conducted over a 2-year period to describe the pattern of primary osteoarthrosis of the knee among Saudis, and compare it with other populations. Fifty patients [96 knees] met the criteria to be included in the study; 40% were under 50 years of age. The female to male ratio was 2.3:1. The condition was bilateral in 92% of the cases and varus deformity was seen in 83% of the affected knees. Quetelet's index of obesity exceeded the 'healthy range' in most of the cases [88%]. Half the cases had lumbar spondylosis although none of the patients showed evidence of associated arthrosis of the hip; 80% showed involvement of the patello-femoral articulation. Half of the patients were unable to pray normally and most could squat only with difficulty or not at all. Possible causes for this particular pattern of arthrosis of the knee and consequences regarding methods of surgical treatment are discussed