Publication: Body Mass Index in Patients with Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A descriptive cross-sectional study
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Low back pain is a leading cause of disability globally. Obesity, a product of modern
lifestyle, is a well-established risk factor for many diseases including spine pathologies.
Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is a significant cause of low back pain in the
middle-aged and elderly population. However, the literature on relationship between
high body mass index and degenerative spondylolisthesis is inconsistent.
Objective
To investigate prevalence of obesity among the patients with degenerative
spondylolisthesis.
Method
This cross-sectional study was conducted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital,
Nepal, involving 81 patients aged ≥ 40 diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis
at various lumbar vertebral levels and grades. Anthropometric measurements were
obtained and analyzed using an Independent t-test to compare the mean age, height,
weight, and body mass index across different levels, grades, and between sexes.
Result
Among the 81 patients, 59 were female, and 22 were male. The mean age and, BMI
were 59.41 ± 10.97 years, and 26.04 ± 4.41 kg/m2, respectively. A notable 59.3% of
patients had Body Mass Index ≥ 25. Patients with grade II spondylolisthesis exhibited
significantly higher weight and Body Mass Index compared to those with grade I
spondylolisthesis (p = 0.031, 0.013), particularly in female population (p = 0.003,
0.007) and at L4-L5 level (p = 0.003, 0.004).
Conclusion
Body mass index and weight were significantly higher in patients with grade II
spondylolisthesis compared to grade I. This finding underscores the need for
further research to understand the relationship between obesity and degenerative
spondylolisthesis.
KEY WORDS
Body mass index, Epidemiology, Obesity, Spondylolisthesis
Description
Kafle KR,1 Lakhey RB,1 Ghimire N,1 Paudel S,2 Paudel S,1 Kafle D1
1Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery
2Department of Radiology
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital
Maharagunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
Body mass index, Epidemiology, Obesity, Spondylolisthesis