title: Waiting for total hip arthroplasty: avoidable loss in quality time and preventable deterioration.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effect of waiting times for total hip arthroplasty in terms of loss in quality-adjusted life years and additional burden perceived. A second goal was to study the effect of waiting times and preoperative function scores on postoperative outcome scores. Data were collected prospectively from a cohort of 161 patients waiting for total hip arthroplasty. The Oxford Hip score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, SF-36, and the EuroQol health status instruments were administered when the patient was placed on the waiting list, preoperatively, and 3 and 12 months after surgery. The disease-specific scores especially showed a significant deterioration during the waiting time. Moreover, a considerable loss of quality-adjusted life years occurred simply by postponing surgery. Although we found no direct effect of waiting time on postoperative outcomes, patients in a later phase of the disease process did not improve to the level achieved by patients with better preoperative function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostendorf
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buskens
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Stel
authors.forename: Augustus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrijvers
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marting
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dhert
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verbout
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists