Are waist circumference and body mass index independently associated with severity of knee osteoarthritis in elderly Kuwaiti populations?

Osteoarthritis [OA] of the knee is one of the major causes of pain and physical disability. Obesity is perhaps the strongest modifiable risk factor for the progression of the disease. The study aimed at exploring the associations between the severity of knee osteoarthritis [OA], and body mass index [BMI], and waist circumference [WC] as two putative parameter of obesity. The study design is a cross sectional one, in which 110 patients with idiopathic symptomatic knee OA were classified using Health Assessment questionnaire [HAQ] score into row groups: mild/moderate [48 patients] and severe [62 cases]. A pre-designed questionnaire included personal data, anthropometric measurements and results of clinical and radiological examination. Basic univariate analyses were followed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Of the risk factors examined, obesity was the only significant determinant of progression of knee OA [OR = 48.8, 95% CI: 2.9-90.2], while female gender and presence of Heberden's nodes showed border line statistical significance [OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0 - 2.2 and OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0 - 1.9 respectively]. Weight, BMI and WC were significantly correlated with HAQ severity score of OA. Obesity is the strongest modifiable risk factor for the severity of osteoarthritis. Weight loss may reduce the risk of progression of OA of the knee, BMI and waist WC can be used as clinical measures and predictors of the severity of knee OA

Dyslipidemia among adult population of Kifan area in Kuwait

The purpose of this study was to describe lipid distribution and to identify the association between dyslipidaemia and other factors in the population of Kifan. Random sample of adult Kifan population aged 20-65 years old were interviewed by a cross-sectional survey. The sample was 404 individuals, 97 men and 307 women. Data collected during May 2004 to April 2005. Health status was determined by questionnaires and physical check-ups. Standardized interviews and measurements of blood lipid abnormalities and other associated factors were carried out. Total cholesterol [TC] low density lipoprotein [LDL], high density lipoprotein [HDL], and total triglycerides [TG] were measured The mean concentrations of TC, LDL, HDL, TG were 5.1 +/- 1.0 mmol/L, 3.2 +/- 1.0 mmol/L, 1.2 +/- 0.4 mmol/L and 1.6 +/- 1.1 mmol/L respectively. Overall, 43.8% had elevated total cholesterol [TC] levels above 5.2 mmol/L, 18.6% of the sample had LDL levels above 4.1 mmol/L, 36.1% had HDL below 1 mmol/L and 17.3% had TG levels above 2.26 mmol/L. The concentrations of all lipids were higher in men than in women. The prevalence of dyslipidemia significantly increased with age, male sex, smoking, overweight and obesity. However, no significant association was observed between prevalence of dyslipidemia and occupation, regular exercise, hypertension, family history of coronary diseases and fasting blood sugar FBS] levels. it was concluded that the prevalence of dyslipidemia was higher than that in developed countries. Modifications of lifestyle and adapted therapeutics are necessary to correct this abnormality to guard against cardiovascular mortality