title: BMI and magnitude of scoliosis at presentation to a specialty clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether curve magnitude of scoliosis at presentation correlates with BMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of 180 patients presenting with scoliosis was performed. Curve pattern and magnitude, Risser status, occurrence of surgery, zip code, height and weight, race, and insurance status were recorded. Relationships were examined by Spearman rank and Pearson correlations, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine odds ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both thoracic and lumbar curve patterns, there was a correlation between BMI and curve magnitude. Spearman rank correlation was 0.19 for thoracic (P = .03) and 0.24 for lumbar curves (P = .02). Overweight or obese patients were not more likely, however, to present with curves at higher risk of progression or more likely to have surgical intervention. With respect to potential confounding socioeconomic variables, thoracic curve magnitude was negatively correlated with median family income (Spearman rank correlation -0.17, P = .04). Curve magnitude was not correlated with race, distance, or insurance payer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with high BMI and scoliosis are more likely to present with larger curves, but not more likely to require surgery. This is concerning because of the national trend of increasing childhood obesity and because scoliosis treatment may be more complicated in larger curves. Socioeconomic factors may also be barriers to access.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery; and shawng@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Shawn R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery; and.
authors.forename: Albert J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery; and.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whitesell
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery; and.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Conklin
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Naomi S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Fineberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index