Body mass index, occupational activity, and leisure-time physical activity: an exploration of risk factors and modifiers for knee osteoarthritis in the 1946 British birth cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Knee osteoarthritis (kOA) risk is increased by obesity and physical activities (PA) which mechanically stress the joint. We examined the associations of midlife kOA with body mass index (BMI) and activity exposure across adult life and their interaction.

Methods

Data are from a UK birth cohort of 2597 participants with a clinical assessment for kOA at age 53. At ages 36, 43 and 53 BMI (kg/m2), self-reported leisure-time PA, and occupational activity (kneeling/squatting; lifting; climbing; sitting; assigned using a job-exposure matrix) were ascertained. Associations were explored using the multiplicative logistic model.

Results

BMI was strongly and positively associated with kOA in men and women. Men and women in manual occupations also had greater odds of k

SUBMITTER: Martin KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3726290 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature