Are children living with obesity more likely to experience musculoskeletal symptoms during childhood? A linked longitudinal cohort study using primary care records

Objective To assess whether there is a higher incidence of musculoskeletal consultations in general practice among children with obesity. Design Longitudinal Setting 285 north-east London general practitioners (GPs). Participants 63 418 (50.9% boys) Reception and 55 364 (50.8% boys) Year 6 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) participants, linked to GP electronic health records (EHRs). Main outcome measure A GP consultation with a recorded musculoskeletal symptom or diagnosis. Methods We calculated proportions with a musculoskeletal consultation by ethnic-adjusted weight status (underweight <2nd; overweight ≥91st; obese ≥98th centile), sex, ethnicity, and area-level deprivation. We estimated mutually-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using Cox’s proportional regression models stratified by school year and sex. Results We identified 1868 (3.0%) Reception and 4477 (8.1%) Year 6 NCMP participants with at least one musculoskeletal consultation. In adjusted analyses, Reception year girls with a body mass index (BMI) classified as overweight (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.52) or obese (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.35 to 2.06) were more likely to have at least one musculoskeletal consultation. Year 6 girls with obesity were more likely (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.35), and boys with a BMI in the underweight range were less likely (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.73), to have a musculoskeletal consultation. Conclusions Girls living with obesity at the start or end of primary school are more likely to attend their GP for a musculoskeletal consultation. Routine linkage of NCMP data to EHRs provides useful insights into childhood health conditions related to excess weight in early childhood. Recognition of obesity as a contributing factor for musculoskeletal symptoms may inform clinical management, particularly in girls.