title: Gender differences between WOMAC index scores, health-related quality of life and physical performance in an elderly Taiwanese population with knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the importance of the WOMAC index score, health-related quality of life and physical performance in each domain affected by knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to identify gender differences in the importance of these domains and physical performances.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a population-based study for radiographic knee OA among participants aged more than 65 years. Demographic data were collected and anthropometric measurement, radiographic assessment, the WOMAC index score, the short-form 12 (SF-12), the Timed and Up to Go Test (TUGT) and the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 901 individuals (409 males and 492 females) aged 74.04±6.92 (male: 76.35±7.33; female: 72.12±5.92) years included in this study. The WOMAC scores of participants with OA were higher than those without OA in males and females (male: 11.97±15.79 vs 8.23±12.84, p<0.001; female: 10.61±14.97 vs 7.59±3.31, p=0.032). The physical component summary (PCS) score was only significant in females with knee OA (62.14±24.66 vs 66.59±23.85, p=0.043), while the mental component summary (MCS) score was only significant in males with knee OA (78.02±18.59 vs 81.98±15.46, p=0.02). The TUGT and FTSST were not significant in individuals with and without OA in males and females. Moreover, the multivariate results for the WOMAC score were significant for females (3.928 (95% CI 1.287 to 6.569), p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCS domains of SF-12 and MCS domains of SF-12 are crucial in Taiwanese females and elderly males, respectively, with knee OA. Different evaluation and treatment strategies based on gender differences should be considered in elderly Taiwanese patients with knee OA to improve their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen-Hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Guo-Shu
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsien-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, National Defense Medical Center Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ching-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Aviation Medicine and Physical examination, National Defense Medical Center Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chi-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Chien
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Jia-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: SenYeong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Sui-Lung
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: PUBLIC HEALTH; SEXUAL MEDICINE