Knee and hip OA significantly impact quality of life in younger adults

Adults aged between 20 and 55 years with hip or knee osteo­arthritis (OA) report significantly higher levels of distress and disability and poorer health-related quality of life than the general population for that age range, according to research from the University of Melbourne in Australia.

By Jordana Bieze Foster Lower Extremity Review May 2015

Investigators assessed quality of life and distress in 147 young and middle-aged adults with OA and compared the findings to age- and sex-matched population norms. They found that health-related quality of life, measured using the Assessment of Quality of Life tool, was .35 points lower in the OA population than the general population; a reduction of .06 points or more is clinically significant.

High or very high levels of distress, defined as scores of 22 or higher on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, were four times more prevalent in the OA population than the general population. And two-thirds of the OA patients reported moderate to considerable OA-related work disability, assessed using the Workplace Activity Limitations Scale.

The findings were epublished in April by Osteoarthritis & Cartilage.

Source Lower Extremity Review

Investigating well-being, work limitations and preferences for self-management education and peer support among younger people with hip and knee osteoarthritis: protocol for a cross-sectional study, Ackerman IN, Page RS, Schoch P, Brand CA. BMJ Open. 2013 Aug 23;3(8):e003030. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003030.