Exploring the association between adiposity, pain intensity, and effusion-synovitis in people with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
Our preliminary results do not support an association of adiposity and its interaction with generalized inflammation with pain/effusion-synovitis adjusted for BMI.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) from the Western Ontario Registry for Early Osteoarthritis Knee Study (mean age 61.1 (10.9), 68% female, mean body mass index (BMI) 31.7 (7.7))analysed
- Participants
- 225 individuals
- Outcome
- Association of total body and visceral fat percentages (bioimpedance) with pain intensity and effusion-synovitis (knee US), adjusted for BMI; moderation by SII/SIRI
Methodological detailsregistry sample, multiple regression with interaction terms, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, radiographic severity of opposite knee, anxio-depressive symptoms
- Registry sample
- Multiple regression with interaction terms
- Adjusted for age, sex, BMI, radiographic severity of opposite knee, anxio-depressive symptoms
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Association of fat percentages with pain intensity (linear) and effusion-synovitis (logistic), adjusted for BMI and other confounders
Pain intensity, total body fat: β
- 0.03
−0.54 to 0.46
Pain intensity, visceral fat: β
−0.25
−1.03 to 0.51
Effusion-synovitis, total body fat: OR
0.98
0.92 to 1.05
Effusion-synovitis, visceral fat: OR
1.01
0.91 to 1.11
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Fat percentage and effusion-synovitis (adjusted logistic models)
- Total body fat, OR
- 0.98 (0.92 to 1.05)
- Visceral fat, OR
- 1.01 (0.91 to 1.11)
- Main and interaction effects not significant
Interaction of fat with SII/systemic immune response index (SIRI) on pain intensity/effusion-synovitis
- Interaction effects not significant
Original publication
Exploring the association between adiposity, pain intensity, and effusion-synovitis in people with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 4 January 2026. doi:10.
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