The Association of Body Mass Index and Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a common injury with significant incidence.
• Identifying modifiable risk factors like body mass index (BMI) is crucial for injury prevention.
• Previous studies on BMI as an ATR risk factor have yielded mixed results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the body mass index (BMI) of patients with Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) to matched controls with ankle sprains.
• To investigate the association between BMI and the risk of sustaining an ATR.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control study involving 168 patients (56 with ATR, 112 with ankle sprains).
• Patients were age- and sex-matched.
• Demographic and BMI data were collected and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests, Fisher exact tests, and multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in mean BMI between ATR (33.4) and ankle sprain (31.9) groups.
• Significantly fewer ATR patients were in the normal BMI class (18-25) compared to ankle sprain controls (P=.020).
• Multivariate analysis identified African American race, participation in athletics, and BMI > 25 as significant risk factors for ATR.

Conclusions:

• A BMI between 18 and 25 is associated with lower rates of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR).
• Elevated BMI (greater than 25) appears to be an independent risk factor for ATR.
• These findings suggest BMI is a relevant factor in ATR risk, even among individuals participating in sports.