Quality of life and self-reported disability in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Issue 1 (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alkan, Berat Meryem; Fidan, Fatma; Tosun, Aliye; Ardıçoğlu, Özge
• Is Part Of: Modern rheumatology. Volume 24:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Rheumatology -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.3109/14397595.2013.854046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-7595

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objectives</italic> Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disorder and a major public health problem throughout the world. The aims of this study are to assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with knee OA using the generic instrument Short Form-36 (SF-36) and to determine its relationships with conventional clinical measures and self-reported disability.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic> Patients with knee OA (<italic>n</italic> = 112) with median age of 60 (45–76) years and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), symptom duration, and Kellgren–Lawrence scores were recorded. QoL, disability, and pain were assessed using the SF-36, the Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) index, the Lequesne index, and a visual analog scale (VAS) in patients. Also, QoL was assessed using the SF-36 in controls.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic> Patients with knee OA had lower scores in all subgroups of SF-36 compared with controls. In patients, the SF-36 physical function (PF) and pain areas significantly correlated with effusion, VAS pain, and Lequesne and WOMAC subgroup scores (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). The pain area of QoL did not show correlation with comorbidity with knee OA. We found that SF-36 and WOMAC pain scores were more severe in female patients.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic> Patients with knee OA had significantly poorer QoL compared with healthy controls. SF-36 is related to the clinical status and functional ability of patients with OA and can be used as a sensitive health status measure for clinical evaluation. Also WOMAC can be used as a sensitive measure for disability of patients with knee OA.</p> </abstract>