Association between elevated circulating FABP4 levels and postoperative prognosis in osteoarthritis patients undergoing joint arthroplasty: A prospective cohort study

This study aimed to investigate the potential role of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in predicting prognosis after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 400 patients undergoing TKA or THA and 100 healthy controls were included. Patients were categorized into a complication group if local postoperative complications occurred within 90 days post-surgery; otherwise, they were classified as the no complications group. The demographic and clinical data of the 2 groups were compared, and the clinical characteristics and risk factors of local postoperative complications within 90 days of TKA/THA were evaluated. Plasma FABP4 concentrations were measured using an ELISA kit. FABP4 concentration (odds ratio [OR] = 1.521, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.190-1.944, P = .001), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (OR = 0.064, 95% CI = 0.005-0.811, P = .034), and estimated intraoperative blood loss (OR = 1.070, 95% CI = 1.008-1.135, P = .027) were identified as significant predictors of 90-day local postoperative complications. Elevated levels of FABP4 are frequently observed in patients experiencing local postoperative complications within 90 days following TKA/THA. FABP4 concentration, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and estimated intraoperative blood loss are risk factors for the development of this complications, although further validation in advanced clinical trials is required.