Health-related quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis in a family practice setting.
OBJECTIVE
To study the impact of osteoarthritis (OA) on all areas of a patient's health-related quality of life.


METHODS
The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) was administered to a group of patients with OA selected from a family medicine setting. The results were compared to a reference population, stratified by age, and adjusted for sex.


RESULTS
OA was associated with significant impairment, and had an important impact on, health-related quality of life in the areas of ambulation, body care and movement, emotional behavior, sleep and rest, home management, and work, especially in patients ages 41-60. The older patients differed less from the controls than did the younger ones. Items that contributed to the differences between OA patients and controls were mainly related to physical limitations.


CONCLUSIONS
Most dysfunctions related to OA are physical.
de Bock
G H
GH
Kaptein
A A
AA
Touw-Otten
F
F
Mulder
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile