Presenter’s name (Last, First): Berton, Peter

Qualifications: MBBS, FRACS, FAOrthA

Affiliations: Newcastle Knee Clinic Kotara

Other authors:
Nil

Email: peter@berton.net.au

---

Background / Introduction:
High BMI patients are more likely to have total knee replacement than normal BMI patients and have a higher complication rate.
Significant symptom relief can take place with BMI percentage optimisation Independent of starting weight.
The Osteoarthritis Healthy Weight For Life [HWFL] program [Prima Health] was the first community based study to demonstrate the dose response relationship between weight reduction magnitude and reductions in pain and improvement in function in persons with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Patients / Methods:
Between August 2016 and August 2022 the author enrolled 269 participants eligible for the HWFL program. Data analysis for 207 completed participants was performed with 15 % lost to follow up or choosing to discontinue before completion of program .

Results:

Greater than 75% of participants lost 5 or greater % of weight .
Greater than 27 % lost 10 percent or more of weight. Younger male patients had greater weight loss than the female age equivalent group.
A significant improvement in KOOS score showed significant improvement in all quality of life measures.

Conclusion:
Undertaking the HWFL achieved clinically important Impacts onthe following patient related predictors of outcome
1]BMI
2]Preoperative pain (KOOS pain domain )
3]Preoperative function (KOOS function domain )
4]Anxiety ( indicated by SF12 Q6a-calm and peaceful,Q6b-lot of energy)
HWFL appears to be a well tolerated and well received adjunct to orthopaedic practice.

Level of Evidence & Study type: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Declarations of Conflict: No conflicts of interest