Relationship between physical activity and health-related utility among knee osteoarthritis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relationship between physical activity and health-related utility for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and implications for designing cost-effective interventions.


METHODS
We used generalized estimating equation regression analysis to estimate partial association of accelerometer-measured physical activity levels with health-related utility after controlling for demographics, health status, knee OA severity level, pain, and functioning.


RESULTS
Moving from the lowest to the middle tertile of physical activity level was associated with a 0.071 (P < 0.01) increase in health-related utility after controlling for demographics and a 0.036 (P < 0.05) increase in utility after controlling for demographics, health status, knee OA severity level, weight, pain, and functional impairments.


CONCLUSIONS
Intervention programs that move individuals out of the lowest tertile of physical activity have the potential to be cost effective.
Institute for Healthcare Studies, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Rubloff, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611-3152, USA. l-manheim@northwestern.edu
Larry M
LM
Manheim
Dorothy
D
Dunlop
Jing
J
Song
Pamela
P
Semanik
Jungwha
J
Lee
Rowland W
RW
Chang
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index