title: Comorbidity, limitations in activities and pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research), Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.vandijk@nivel.nl
authors.forename: Gabriella M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veenhof
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schellevis
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hulsmans
authors.forename: Jan Pj
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arwert
authors.forename: Jos Hm
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Guus J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lankhorst
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: 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