title: Relationship between decreased lower extremity muscle mass and knee pain severity in both the general population and patients with knee osteoarthritis: Findings from the KNHANES V 1-2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence of and risk factors for knee pain and radiographic knee osteoarthritis (RKOA) and to investigate the relationship between decreased lower extremity muscle mass (DLEM) and knee pain severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 3,278 participants who were ≥50 years old and who underwent dual x-ray absorptiometry, plain knee radiographs and completed a knee pain questionnaire were enrolled. Lower extremity muscle mass (LEM) was defined as the sum of the fat-free soft tissue mass of the legs, and lower extremity muscle mass index (LMI) was calculated as LEM/body weight (%). DLEM was defined as an LMI more than two standard deviations below the mean of a gender-matched young reference group. Categorical variables were presented as numbers (weighted %).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of knee pain and RKOA were 22% (n = 721) and 34.7% (n = 1,234), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed being female (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.67-2.79), older (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.04), less educated (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.09-2.71), stiffness (OR 16.15, 95% CI 12.04-21.66), bed rest (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.81-3.43), RKOA (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.78-2.74) and DLEM (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.09-2.17) were associated with knee pain. Participants with simultaneous RKOA and DLEM complained of more severe pain (pain score 7.18 ± 2.48) than those with knee pain without RKOA or DLEM (5.02 ± 2.44), those with only RKOA (6.29 ± 2.50), or those with only DLEM (6.78 ± 2.18) (P<0.001). These results remained after multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of knee pain and RKOA were 22% and 34.7%, respectively, in the general Korean population. DLEM was an independent risk factor for knee pain and it was associated with increased pain severity, regardless of RKOA.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ok
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Gyo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine, Chonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wan-Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Rock Bum
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Su
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Soo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5571-3639
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000473:pathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index