To examine the association between body composition and osteoarthritis (OA).
An extensive literature review was performed to identify studies that examined the association between body composition and OA. The mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR), relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined using RevMan statistical software.
A total of 19 studies were included. The combined MD showed the fat mass of the subjects with knee OA was higher than that of the control group (MD 4.38, 95% CI: 2.84-5.92). Both fat mass and fat mass percentage were positively associated with knee OA (ORs ranged from 1.49, 95% CI: 1.15-1.92, to 2.37, 95% CI: 1.18-4.74). Similar findings were observed in hip and hand joints as well (ORs ranged from 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08-1.32, to 1.87, 95% CI: 1.11-3.15), and such results were also confirmed by most cohort studies of knee and hip OA (RRs ranged from 0.98, 95% CI: 0.95-1.01, to 3.60, 95% CI: 2.60-5.00). Lean mass was also positively associated with knee OA (OR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.13-1.94). However, lean mass percentage was negatively associated with knee OA (OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.46-0.92).
Both fat mass and fat mass percentage were likely to be risk factors for knee, hip and hand OA. Similarly, lean mass also seemed to be a risk factor for knee OA, while lean mass percentage seemed to be a protective factor.