title: Patients with obesity-related comorbidities have higher disability compared with those without obesity-related comorbidities: results from a cross-sectional study.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to describe disability in adult obese patients with obesity-related comorbidities, and to compare it with that of patients without obesity-related comorbidities. Two groups of obese patients were administered a set of 166 International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) categories; on the basis of this set, count-based indexes were developed for each ICF component and difference between patients with and without comorbidities were assessed with independent-sample t-test and Cohen's d as a measure of effect size. ICF categories in which at least 20% of patients reported a problem were considered relevant for describing functioning of obese patients; for each of them, the risk of having obesity-related comorbidities was calculated using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. A total of 106 inpatients were enrolled in the study: 68 ICF categories reached the 20% threshold, and 31 of them were relevant only among patients with comorbidities. The presence of obesity-related comorbidities was associated with an increased risk of bodily impairments and limitations in performing daily activities. Compared with patients without obesity-related comorbidities, those with comorbidities showed higher disability. Comorbidities contribute to obesity-related disability, and our results support the importance of early rehabilitation interventions to reduce disability.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Internal Medicine bPsycological Research Laboratory, Ospedale San Giuseppe IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Verbania cNeurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sirtori
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capodaglio
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Berselli
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceriani
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corti
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raggi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064702:International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*