Knee Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Brazilian Population Study

Abstract

Objectives. To estimate the association among knee pain and central obesity. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Salvador, Brazil, with a sample of 2,297 individuals 20 years of age. A standardized questionnaire was applied at home to collect data about pain, sociodemographic characteristics and abdominal circumference measurement. Unadjusted (bivariate analysis) and adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95%CI were estimated by using backward stepwise logistic regression. Results. The prevalence of knee pain was found in 11.2% of the studied sample. Unadjusted OR associations(P < 0.1) were found for male (OR 2.70, CI[confidence interval] 2.01–3.63), older age (OR 2.98, CI 1.89–4.42), and obesity (OR 1.62, CI 1.22–2.15). Adjusted ORs (P < 0.05) were found for obesity–married individuals (OR 4.69, CI 1.09–20.11), separated (OR 11.03, CI 2.09–58.20) or widowed (OR 7.17,CI 1.40–36.61), and male (OR 2.35, CI 1.25–4.41). The OR of nonobese men was 2.66, CI 1.74–4.06, but being married seems to protect them of knee pain(OR 0.66, CI 0.45–0.96). Conclusion. In this study, we found a knee pain prevalence of 11.2% and positive association with the male gender, married, separated or widowed,and a protective association for knee pain in nonobese married male. Aging, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption were independent correlates of knee pain in the studied population sample.