Quality of Life in Knee Osteoarthritis; Correlation with Clinical Measures and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common degenerative joint disorder, affects the quality of lives (QoL) of the sufferers as other chronic disorders. Therefore assessment of QOL is of particular importance. In this study we aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in patients with knee osteoarthritis by using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and to determine its relationships with disability and pain indices. Methods: Patients with knee OA (n=105), with a mean age of 59.79±10.10 yrs and 50 sex and age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Age, sex, symptom durations, body mass index (BMI) and Kellgren-Lawrence scores were recorded. NHP was used in assessment of QoL in all patients and controls. Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was used in assessment of disability and pain was assessed by using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in patients. Results: Patients with knee OA had higher scores in all subgroups of NHP than controls. In patients the NHP total score significantly correlated to presence of effusion, VAS pain and the KOOS subgroups scores. Discussion And Conclusion: The patients with knee OA had a significantly poorer quality of life compared to the healthy persons. Besides, NHP was found to be associated with clinical examination findings and disability. We assume that NHP can effectively be used in evaluation of health status in patients with knee OA.