Superior responsiveness of the pain and function sections of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) as compared to the Lequesne-Algofunctional Index in patients with osteoarthritis of the lower extremities.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the responsiveness of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and a questionnaire format of the Lequesne-Algofunctional Index in patients with OA of the lower extremities.


METHODS
Longitudinal analysis of the instruments' responsiveness [standardized response mean (SRM), effect size (ES)] in ambulatory patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty.


RESULTS
At six months 36, and at one year 40 out of 43 patients undergoing hip (N=30) or knee arthroplasty (N=13) could be examined. Both responsiveness statistics revealed the same order of responsiveness. For both indices and for both locations, the pain sections were more responsive than the function sections. However, the WOMAC scales and the WOMAC global index (hip at 12 months: SRM=2.4; knee at 12 months: SRM=2.0 ) were more responsive than the comparable Lequesne sections and Lequesne index (hip at 12 months: SRM=2.1; knee at 12 months: SRM=1.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Although our results are based on a German version using a self-report format, the WOMAC scales appear to be more responsive than the Lequesne index in patients with OA of the lower extremities.
Theiler
R
R
The Clinic of Rheumatology, Aarau General Hospital, Aarau, Switzerland.
Sangha
O
O
Schaeren
S
S
Michel
B A
BA
Tyndall
A
A
Dick
W
W
Stucki
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome