Engagement between patients with obesity and osteoarthritis and primary care physicians: a cross-sectional survey

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of the study sample

Characteristics of Survey Respondents	Patients with OA and Obesity (N = 304)
Sex*, n (%)
Male	64 (21.1)
Female	240 (78.9)
Mean age (SD), years	58.1 (10.0)
Region*, n (%)
Northeast	59 (19.4)
Midwest	82 (27.0)
South	116 (38.2)
West	47 (15.5)
Ethnicity^^, n (%)
White	265 (87.2)
Black/African American	40 (13.2)
Spanish/Hispanic/Latino	11 (3.6)
American Indian/Alaska Native	9 (3.0)
BMI classification*, n (%)
Obesity class I (BMI 30-<35)	103 (33.9)
Obesity class II (BMI 35-<40)	74 (24.3)
Obesity class III (BMI ≥40)	127 (41.8)
Joints affected by OA^^, n (%)
Knee(s)	255 (83.9)
Spine/lumbar	177 (58.2)
Hip	174 (57.2)
Hand(s)	155 (51.0)
Ankle(s)	77 (25.3)
Other	43 (14.1)
Mean age at OA diagnosis (SD), years	45.6 (11.5)
OA severity^*†, n (%)
Mild	34 (11.2)
Moderate	170 (55.9)
Severe	100 (32.9)
	Healthcare Providers (N = 309)
Sex*, n (%)
Male	226 (73.1)
Female	80 (25.9)
Other	3 (1.0)
Mean time in practice, (SD), years	16.7 (8.7)
Region*, n (%)
Northeast	89 (28.8)
Midwest	73 (23.6)
South	96 (31.1)
West	51 (16.5)
Hospital/practice associated with an obesity specialist/weight management practice or center*, n (%)
Yes	67 (21.7)
No	220 (71.2)
Not Sure	22 (7.1)
Received advanced formal training in the treatment of obesity/weight management*, n (%)
Yes	38 (12.3)
No	271 (87.7)
Provider type*, n (%)	Healthcare Providers (N = 309)
Physician	258 (83.5)
Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant^±	51 (16.5)
Physician specialty*, n (%)	Physicians (N = 258)
Orthopedics	104 (40.3)
Rheumatology	53 (20.5)
Family Practice^‡	80 (31.0)
Internal Medicine^‡	14 (5.4)
General Practice^‡	7 (2.7)

SD = standard deviation; BMI = body mass index

*Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

^{^}Multi-select question, thus percentages sum to greater than 100%.

^†Defined by self-reported pain: 1) mild OA = occasionally has pain after a long day of walking or running, greater stiffness in the joint(s) when it’s not used for several hours, or tenderness when using the joint(s) at full extension. 2) moderate OA = frequently has pain when walking, running, bending, or kneeling. Also experience joint stiffness after sitting for long periods of time or when waking up in the morning. Sometimes have joint swelling after extended periods of activity. 3) severe OA = Severe and frequent pain doing everyday tasks such as walking or descending stairs. Frequent stiffness after sitting or when waking up in the morning. Frequent swelling after any activity.

^±Specializing in primary care (n = 20), rheumatology (n = 16), and orthopedics (n = 15).

^‡These specialties were combined to create the PCP category.

Table 2. Characteristics of the primary care physician sample

	Primary Care Physicians (PCPs)^^ (N = 101)
Sex*, n (%)
Male	74 (73.3)
Female	27 (26.7)
Mean time in practice, (SD), years	19.4 (8.5)
Region*, n (%)
Northeast	20 (19.8)
Midwest	29 (28.7)
South	31 (30.7)
West	21 (20.8)
Hospital/practice associated with an obesity specialist/weight management practice or center*, n (%)
Yes	22 (21.8)
No	75 (74.3)
Not sure	4 (4.0)
Received advanced formal training in the treatment of obesity/weight management*, n (%)
Yes	21 (20.8)
No	80 (79.2)

SD = standard deviation

*Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

^{^}The PCP category included specialists in family medicine, internal medicine, and general practice.

Figure 1. Medical journey pathway for patients with OA and obesity diagnosed by a PCP

Table 3. Characteristics of patients with OA and obesity diagnosed by or managed by a PCP

Characteristics of Survey Respondents	Patients Diagnosed by a PCP^‡ (N = 164)	Patients who have Seen a PCP^‡ for OA Treatment/Management (N = 229)
Sex*, n (%)
Male	38 (23.2)	49 (21.4)
Female	126 (76.8)	180 (78.6)
Mean age (SD), years	59.3 (9.7)	58.4 (9.8)
Region*, n (%)
Northeast	22 (13.4)	40 (17.5)
Midwest	46 (28.0)	63 (27.5)
South	66 (40.2)	91 (39.7)
West	30 (18.3)	35 (15.3)
Ethnicity^^, n (%)
White	146 (89.0)	204 (89.1)
Black/African American	20 (12.2)	27 (11.8)
Spanish/Hispanic/Latino	6 (3.7)	8 (3.5)
American Indian/Alaska Native	8 (4.9)	8 (3.5)
BMI classification*, n (%)
Obesity class I (BMI 30-<35)	60 (36.6)	75 (32.8)
Obesity class II (BMI 35-<40)	44 (26.8)	59 (25.8)
Obesity class III (BMI ≥40)	60 (36.6)	95 (41.5)
Joints affected by OA^^, n (%)
Knee(s)	140 (85.4)	195 (85.2)
Spine/lumbar	107 (65.2)	138 (60.3)
Hip	105 (64.0)	135 (59.0)
Hand(s)	94 (57.3)	126 (55.0)
Ankle(s)	48 (29.3)	62 (27.1)
Other	24 (14.6)	34 (14.8)
Mean age at OA diagnosis (SD), years	45.8 (12.2)	45.3 (11.4)
OA severity^*†, n (%)
Mild	14 (8.5)	22 (9.6)
Moderate	94 (57.3)	127 (55.5)
Severe	56 (34.1)	80 (34.9)

SD = standard deviation; BMI = body mass index

*Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding

^{^}Multi-select question, thus percentages sum to greater than 100%

^†Defined by self-reported pain: 1) mild OA = occasionally has pain after a long day of walking or running, greater stiffness in the joint(s) when it’s not used for several hours, or tenderness when using the joint(s) at full extension. 2) moderate OA = frequently has pain when walking, running, bending, or kneeling. Also experience joint stiffness after sitting for long periods of time or when waking up in the morning. Sometimes have joint swelling after extended periods of activity. 3) severe OA = Severe and frequent pain doing everyday tasks such as walking or descending stairs. Frequent stiffness after sitting or when waking up in the morning. Frequent swelling after any activity.

^‡The PCP category included specialists in Family medicine, internal medicine, and general practice respondents.

Figure 2. Clinical guidelines followed by PCPs for OA and obesity

Figure 3. Topics discussed during conversations about weight/weight management between PCPs and patients with OA and obesity