Overweight is not predictive of bracing failure in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: results from a retrospective cohort study.
Overweight was found to be a negative predictor of brace effectiveness for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), with a threefold higher risk of progression than in normal weight patients. The aim of this study is to investigate overweight, as a predictor of brace results in AIS patients.



Design: retrospective cohort study.



351 AIS patients (306 females), mean age 12.9 ± 1.4, mean Cobb 35.6 ± 11.4°, mean ATR 11 ± 4.3°, BMI 19.7 ± 3, median Risser: 2.



no previous treatment, full-time prescription of brace at first visit (18-23 h per day), scoliosis physiotherapeutic exercise according to the SEAS protocol associated.



improved, progressed, and stable according to the 5° Cobb agreed threshold.



a stepwise linear regression was used to look for the effect of BMI as a predictor of result. A Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for the overweight category (BMI ≥ 85th percentile). Control for possible confounders was applied.



BMI is poorly correlated with final results. Confounders' adjustment did not change the correlation, and the predictive model explained about 10% of the result. Brace results were not statistically different in overweight and normal weight: 44 vs 52% improved, 52 vs 41% stable, and 3 vs 7% worsened, respectively.



Brace results were similar in overweight and normal weight subjects. These findings subvert the previous results and disprove the role of overweight as a negative predictor. Treatment management, brace type and effectiveness may play a major role in reducing the risks of scoliosis progression.
ISICO (Italian Scientific Spine Institute), Via Roberto Bellarmino 13/1, 20141, Milan, MI, Italy. fabio.zaina@isico.it.
Fabio
0000-0002-1256-5362
F
Zaina
ISICO (Italian Scientific Spine Institute), Via Roberto Bellarmino 13/1, 20141, Milan, MI, Italy.
Sabrina
S
Donzelli
Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.|IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
Stefano
S
Negrini
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000628:therapy*
BMI; Braces; Overweight; Scoliosis