Osteoarthritis in veterans undergoing bariatric surgery is associated with decreased excess weight loss: 5-year outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Obesity exacerbates pre-existing musculoskeletal disease and joint pain. This may limit physical activity in obese individuals.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to identify the disease burden and impact of osteoarthritis of the lumbar back, hip, knee, and ankle in veterans undergoing bariatric surgery.

SETTING

Veterans Affairs medical center.

METHODS

Retrospective review of a prospective bariatric database of operations performed at a single Veterans Affairs medical center. Patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, hip, knee, or ankle were identified and diagnosis confirmed by electronic health record review of prior radiographic reports. Analysis was performed using χ2 test for continuous variables. Student's t test and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare qualitative variables.

RESULTS

Of 254 bariatric surgical patients, 83.9% had preoperative musculoskeletal pain before bariatric surgery and 59.1% had a confirmed diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, hips, knees, and/or ankles. Follow-up rate was 97.4%, 85.4%, and 82.6% at 1, 3, and 5 years respectively. Of patients with osteoarthritis, 58.6% had knee involvement and 46% had multiple sites involved. In the cohort without osteoarthritis, percent excess body mass index loss was 66.9% at 1 year versus 58.5% in the cohort with osteoarthritis (P = .009), 66.1% versus 51.9% (P = .001) at 3 years, and 64.3% versus 50.1% (P = .002) after 5 years. Percent total weight loss was 28.4% versus 25.2%, 28.0% versus 22.8%, and 27.1% versus 22.4%, respectively, at 1, 3, and 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteoarthritis is common among veterans undergoing bariatric surgery. It is associated with significantly less weight loss compared to veterans who do not have osteoarthritis, up to 5 years after bariatric surgery.