Poster Presentation ANZOS-OSSANZ-AOCO Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

Foot pain severity is associated with the ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat mass, fat mass index and depression in women (#256)

Tom P Walsh 1 2 , John B Arnold 3 , Tiffany K Gill 4 , Angela M Evans 5 , Alison Yaxley 1 , Catherine L Hill 2 4 , E Michael Shanahan 1 2
  1. Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
  2. SA Health, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  3. University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  4. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  5. La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

Introduction:

Body composition and poor mental health are risk factors for developing foot pain, but the role of different fat deposits and psychological features related to chronic pain are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between body composition, psychological health, and foot pain.

Method:

Eighty-eight women participated in this study: 44 with chronic, disabling foot pain (mean (standard deviation) age 55.3 (7.0) years, body mass index (BMI) 29.5 (6.7) kg/m2), and 44 age and BMI matched controls. Disabling foot pain was determined from the functional limitation domain of the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index. Body composition was measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry, psychological health (catastrophisation, central sensitisation, and depression) was measured using three validated questionnaires.

Results:

Between-group analyses found that foot pain was not significantly associated with body composition variables, but was significantly associated with all psychological health measures (P < 0.001 - 0.047). Within-group analyses found that the severity of foot pain was significantly correlated with body composition measures: fat mass (total, android, gynoid, visceral), fat mass ratios (visceral/subcutaneous (VAT / SAT), visceral / android), fat mass index (FMI), and depression. In multivariable analysis, VAT / SAT (β 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28 - 2.27), FMI (β 0.14, 95% CI 0.02 - 0.25) and depression (β 0.06, 95% CI 0.00 - 0.12) were independently associated with foot pain severity.

Conclusions: 

Psychological health, but not body composition, was associated with prevalent foot pain. For women with foot pain, VAT / SAT, FMI, and depression were associated with severity. Further work is needed to determine if a reduction in fat mass reduces the severity of foot pain.