Health-related and overall quality of life of patients with chronic hip and knee complaints in general practice.
BACKGROUND
Information about quality of life of patients with chronic hip or knee complaints in general practice is scarce. This study describes the health-related and overall quality of life (HRQL) of these complaints.


METHODS
Data were obtained from a cohort study in general practice. HRQL at three months follow-up was analysed. HRQL was measured as: symptoms, physical, psychological and social functioning, and general health perceptions, using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the MOS 36-item short-form-health survey (SF-36). Overall quality of life was measured using a 5-point rating scale.


RESULTS
The results show that patients with chronic hip or knee complaints have a substantial lower HRQL compared to patients who had recovered from baseline hip or knee complaints. The largest effect was found on symptoms and physical functioning: up to 2.9 standard deviations below patients who had recovered from baseline hip or knee complaints. Scores of patients with both chronic hip and knee complaints were significantly worse than scores of patients with only knee complaints on most subscales.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with chronic hip or knee complaints the worst scores were seen on scales that measure symptoms and physical functioning, but still a substantially lower score was obtained for overall quality of life. Quality of life was poorer for patients with both chronic hip and knee complaints compared to those with chronic hip or knee complaints only.
van der Waal
Johanna M
JM
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.vanderwaal@vumc.nl
Terwee
Caroline B
CB
van der Windt
Daniëlle A W M
DA
Bouter
Lex M
LM
Dekker
Joost
J
D002908:Chronic Disease; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007717:Knee; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile