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Knee and hip OA significantly impact quality of life in younger adult patients

By Jordana Bieze Foster

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.

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:

Ackerman IN, Bucknill A, Page RS, et al. The substantial personal burden experienced by younger people with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2015 Apr 14. [Epub ahead of print]

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