INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that greater extracellular-to-intracellular water (ECW/ICW) ratios in lower-limb muscles are associated with worsened functional abilities in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

We analyzed data from 787 participants (82.2% female; mean age, 69.6 ± 5.3 years) from the Nagahama Prospective Cohort who were ≥60 years old and had radiographically confirmed bilateral knee OA. The Knee Scoring System (KSS) was used to assess functional abilities. Lower-limb ECW/ICW ratios and skeletal mass index values were determined with multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to test for associations between ECW/ICW ratios and functional abilities. Subgroup analyses based on OA severities and symptomaticity were also conducted.

RESULTS

Increased ECW/ICW ratios were associated with a 4.38-point decrease in the KSS function scores (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.15-5.62 points) after adjusting for covariates. This association varied according to the degree of knee symptoms, especially in individuals with radiologically mild OA. ECW/ICW ratios in individuals with asymptomatic mild OA were associated with a 2.14-point decrease in the KSS function score (95% CI, 0.32-3.96 points), whereas those in individuals with severe symptomatic mild OA were associated with a 6.16-point decrease (95% CI, 2.13-10.19 points).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that higher ECW/ICW ratios are associated with greater functional disability in patients with knee OA. Therefore, ECW/ICW ratio measurements with multi-frequency BIA can serve as valuable indicators for functional disability in patients with knee OA. Key Points • Higher extracellular-to-intracellular water (ECW/ICW) ratios are associated with greater functional disability levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). • ECW/ICW ratios are useful clinical signs as a biomarker for poor functional abilities in patients with knee OA.