Elevated Body Mass Index Is Associated With Rotator Cuff Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Purpose

To analyze the literature regarding obesity, body mass index (BMI), and rotator cuff disease (RCD).

Methods

In this Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, we queried PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health, and Science Direct using key words (August 25, 2023). Analytic observational studies (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies) with more than 30 participants per comparison group, evaluating the association between obesity and rotator cuff pathology, were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analysis was performed to quantitatively summarize associations between BMI and RCD to report odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for regression-based models and BMI mean differences between cases and controls. Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies – of Interventions tool was used to evaluate risk of bias across all studies in the systematic review.

Results

After full-text review of 248 articles, 27 presented data on obesity and RCD, and 17 qualified for meta-analysis. Individuals with RCD were 1.21 times (95% CI 1.10-1.34) as likely to have overweight and 1.44 times (95% CI 1.32-1.59) as likely to have obesity compared with those without RCD. Each 5-unit increase in BMI was associated with 35% greater odds of having rotator cuff tear (95% CI 1.06-1.71). In-depth assessment for risk of bias shows quality of studies varies greatly and highlights outcome heterogeneity, lack of temporality, confounding and selection bias as major concerns for individual studies.

Conclusions

In this study, we found a positive association between elevated BMI and RCD.

Level of Evidence

Level III, systematic review and meta-analysis of Level II-III studies.