Association between the Body Roundness Index and osteoarthritis: A population-based study

Area of Science:

• Obesity and metabolic health
• Rheumatology and joint diseases

Background:

• Obesity is a known risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA).
• The Body Roundness Index (BRI) is a novel obesity metric.
• The association between BRI and OA is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between BRI and OA prevalence.
• To determine if BRI can serve as an indicator for OA risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 20,564 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2007-2016).
• Multifactorial logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were used.
• Stratified analysis was performed to ensure result reliability.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between continuous BRI and OA prevalence (OR: 1.19).
• Individuals in the highest BRI quartile had a 153% higher OA prevalence (OR: 2.53).
• The association was linear and primarily significant in individuals with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², independent of other factors.

Conclusions:

• Increased BRI is associated with a higher prevalence of OA.
• This association is particularly pronounced in obese individuals.
• BRI shows potential as a valuable tool for identifying individuals at high risk for OA.