OVER 50% TKR PATIENTS OBESE – NEW JBJS STUDY
Obesity is associated with longer hospital stays and higher costs in total knee replacement (TKR) patients, according to a new study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. The increases hold true regardless of whether the patient has an obesity-related disease or condition.
The study investigators found that more than half of TKR patients have a body mass index (BMI) that is within the obesity range—a range that is linked to a higher risk for related comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and osteoarthritis. Medical Press, which reported the study, indicated that research is inconclusive as to whether the higher medical costs in the cases of obese TKR patients are due directly to their higher BMI or to their related comorbidities.
In the study, researchers reviewed the BMI, comorbidities, complications, outcomes and cost of care of 8,129 patients who had undergone 6,475 primary TKRs and 1,654 revision TKRs at a major medical center between January 1, 2000 and September 30, 2008. The median patient age was 68. Fifty-seven percent of the patients who underwent primary TKR and 53% who underwent revision TKR were female. T...
