Title:Health-Related Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among Patients
With Knee Osteoarthritis
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Author(s): Aicha Ben Tekaya, Syrine Bouzid, Lobna Kharrat*, Leila Rouached, Jihene Galelou, Selma Bouden, Rawdha Tekaya, Olfa Saidane, Ines Mahmoud and Leila Abdelmoula
Affiliation:
- Rheumatology Department, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Keywords:
Quality of life, pain, osteoarthritis, knee, degenerative disease, comorbidities.
Abstract:
Background: Knee osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative disease, is becoming a public
health problem around the world due to increasing life expectancy.
Objectives: We aimed to assess the impact of knee osteoarthritis on the quality of life (QoL) of the
patients and to identify factors associated with impaired QoL.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional monocentric study including patients with
knee osteoarthritis. The pain was evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The short form of
the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-PS) was used to assess functional impact.
QoL was assessed using the OsteoArthritis of Knee Hip Quality Of Life (OAKHQOL) questionnaire.
Results: Fifty patients were included. The mean age of patients was 59 ± 9 years. The sex ratio was
0.25. At least one comorbidity was noted in 77% of patients. The mean disease duration was 8.82
years. Mean VAS pain and KOOS-PS were 6.8 ± 1.1 and 54.7 ± 9.6/100; respectively. Assessment
of the QoL by OAKHQOL showed impaired QoL in all domains; the worst scores concerned the
areas of social functioning and pain. Factors associated with an altered QoL were age > 65 years,
longer disease duration, higher pain intensity, comorbidities, and functional impairment.
Conclusion: Our patients showed an impaired QoL in all domains, particularly in terms of physical
activity and social functioning. Lower QoL scores were associated with age, comorbidities, pain,
function, and disease duration. Factors associated with QoL should be considered in the management
program of these patients. Screening and the treatment of comorbidities are also useful for the
management of knee OA.
