Body mass index in meralgia paresthetica: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
This case-control study explored the possibility of an association between body mass index (BMI) and meralgia paresthetica (MP).


METHODS
A total of 104 MP cases (33 women and 71 men, mean age 51.7 +/- 15.5 years) were matched for age and sex with 208 neurological and 208 dermatological controls. Differences between cases and controls were analyzed using the Wilcoxon and chi-squared tests. Odds ratio matched K controls (OR(MK)) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated.


RESULTS
Mean BMIs were 28.0 +/- 4.9 for cases and 26.0 +/- 4.3 and 25.5 +/- 3.9 for neurological and dermatological controls, respectively. There were significant differences between absolute BMI of cases and neurological (P < 0.01) as well as dermatological controls (P < 0.001), and also significant associations between BMI categories and MP (P = 0.008 vs neurological controls and P = 0.004 vs dermatological controls). There were significant OR(MK) for obesity (BMI >or= 30) [OR(MK) vs neurological controls 2.04 (95% CI 1.13-3.67) and vs dermatological controls 2.5 (95% CI 1.4-4.5)].


CONCLUSIONS
High BMIs were associated with MP. Obesity doubled the risk of MP. MP may be related to increased pressure due to abdominal protrusion.
EMG service ASL 7, Siena, Italy. m.mondelli@usl7.toscana.it
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Mondelli
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Rossi
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Romano
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D013848:Thigh / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology