Comorbidity, limitations in activities and pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.
BACKGROUND
This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the influence of comorbidity in OA. The objectives of the study were (i) to describe the prevalence of comorbidity and (ii) to describe the relationship between comorbidity (morbidity count, severity and the presence of specific diseases) and limitations in activities and pain in elderly patients with knee or hip OA using a comprehensive inventory of comorbidity.


METHODS
A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted, in which 288 elderly patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis were included. Apart from demographic and clinical data, information about comorbidity, limitations in activities (WOMAC, SF-36 and timed walking test) and pain (VAS) was collected by questionnaires and tests. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, multivariate regression techniques, t-tests and one-way ANOVA.


RESULTS
Almost all patients suffered from at least one comorbid disease, with cardiac diseases, diseases of eye, ear, nose, throat and larynx, other urogenital diseases and endocrine/metabolic diseases being most prevalent. Morbidity count and severity index were associated with more limitations in activities and with more pain. The presence of most of the moderate or severe diseases and obesity was associated with limitations in activities or with pain.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study emphasize the importance of comorbidity in the rehabilitation of elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Clinical practitioners should be aware of the relationship of comorbidity with functional problems in OA patients.
van Dijk
Gabriella M
GM
NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research), Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.vandijk@nivel.nl
Veenhof
Cindy
C
Schellevis
Francois
F
Hulsmans
Harry
H
Bakker
Jan Pj
JP
Arwert
Henk
H
Dekker
Jos Hm
JH
Lankhorst
Guus J
GJ
Dekker
Joost
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires