Increased baseline body mass index, anxiety and poor social support lead to higher costs related to total joint replacements in patients with knee osteoarthritis, according to a study in The Journal of Rheumatology.
Researchers conducted a six-month prospective cohort study of patients with knee OA who underwent TKR. The study included 212 patients, of which 66 percent were women, 71 percent were white and the mean age was 65.2 years.
Here are five insights:
1. The mean baseline Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain score was 55 and the WOMAC function score was 54.
2. Total mean TKR-related costs were $30,831.
3. The study found that increasing BMI and anxiety levels and decreasing levels of positive social interactions were associated with increased costs.
4. The multivariate regression analyses predicted that patients with a lower range of normal BMI (19.5), highest positive social interaction and no anxiety incurred TKR costs of approximately $22,247.
5. For obese patients, with BMI of 36, with lowest positive social interaction and highest anxiety TKR costs were around $58,447.