Comparative study of functional capacity and quality of life among obese and non-obese elderly people with knee osteoarthritis.
BACKGROUND
The association between osteoarthritis (OA) and obesity can lead to a reduced functional capacity, compromising the quality of life (QoL) of the elderly.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the functional capacity and QoL of obese and non-obese older adults with knee OA.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 35 subjects with OA divided into two groups, obese and non-obese subjects, according to their body mass index. To assess functional capacity, performance tests such as Timed Up and Go (TUG), gait speed test, and the six-minute walk test (6 MWT) were carried out. To assess QoL, WOMAC and SF-36 questionnaires were administered. We performed descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software version 20.0.


RESULTS
Elderly patients with OA were divided into two groups (obese, n=16; non-obese, n=19). Socio-demographic characteristics were similar between groups (p>0.05). The obese group showed a worst performance in TUG, brisk walking speed and 6 MWT. A more severe pain was found in the following items: "performing heavy housework chores", "going down stairs", "bending to floor" and "getting up from bed" in the obese group (p<0.05). In addition, the obese group had more difficulty to perform tasks for the following items: "going down stairs", "rising from a chair", "standing" and "getting on/off toilet" (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the assessed domains of SF-36 between groups (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
OA associated with obesity caused a negative impact on functional capacity; however, quality of life scores were low, and no difference in obese and non-obese subjects was found.
Department of Biofunction, Physical Therapy Course, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Medicine and Health, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil; Physical Therapy Course, União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura, Salvador, BA, Brazil. Electronic address: mansueto.neto@ufba.br.
Mansueto
M
Gomes-Neto
Department of Biofunction, Physical Therapy Course, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil; Physical Therapy Course, União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Anderson Delano
AD
Araujo
Physical Therapy Course, União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Isabel Dayanne Almeida
ID
Junqueira
Physical Therapy Course, União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Diego
D
Oliveira
Physical Therapy Course, União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Alécio
A
Brasileiro
Department of Biofunction, Physical Therapy Course, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil; Physical Therapy Course, União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Fabio Luciano
FL
Arcanjo
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Elderly; Idosos; Obesidade; Obesity; Osteoarthritis; Osteoartrite; Qualidade de vida; Quality of life