Abstract
Background: Information about quality of life of patients with chronic hip or knee complaints in general practice is scarce. This study describes the health-related and overall quality of life (HRQL) of these complaints. Methods: Data were obtained from a cohort study in general practice. HRQL at three months follow-up was analysed. HRQL was measured as: symptoms, physical, psychological and social functioning, and general health perceptions, using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the MOS 36-item short-form-health survey (SF-36). Overall quality of life was measured using a 5-point rating scale. Results: The results show that patients with chronic hip or knee complaints have a substantial lower HRQL compared to patients who had recovered from baseline hip or knee complaints. The largest effect was found on symptoms and physical functioning: up to 2.9 standard deviations below patients who had recovered from baseline hip or knee complaints. Scores of patients with both chronic hip and knee complaints were significantly worse than scores of patients with only knee complaints on most subscales. Conclusion: In patients with chronic hip or knee complaints the worst scores were seen on scales that measure symptoms and physical functioning, but still a substantially lower score was obtained for overall quality of life. Quality of life was poorer for patients with both chronic hip and knee complaints compared to those with chronic hip or knee complaints only.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Picavet HS, Schouten JSAG. Musculoskeletal pain in the Netherlands: Prevalences, consequences and risk groups, the DMC3-study. In: Public Health Questions on Physical Disabilities and Musculoskeletal Conditions–Studies Using Health Surveys, Thesis, Wageningen Universiteit, The Netherlands, Chapter 4, 1 January 2001; pp. 65–80.
IM Okkes SK Oskam H. Lamberts (1998) Van klacht naar Diagnose Episodegegevens uit de Huisartspraktijk Uitgeverij Coutinho, Bussum
AM Elliott BH Smith KI Penny WC Smith WA Chambers (1999) ArticleTitleThe epidemiology of chronic pain in the community. Lancet 354 1248–1252
KV Straaton PR Fine (1997) ArticleTitleAddressing work disability through vocational rehabilitation services. Bull Rheum Dis 46 1–3
C Hoffman D Rice HY Sung (1996) ArticleTitlePersons with chronic conditions.Their prevalence and costs. JAMA 276 1473–1479
E Odding HA Valkenburg D Algra FA Vandenouweland DE Grobbee A Hofman (1995) ArticleTitleAssociation of locomotor complaints and disability in the Rotterdam study. Ann Rheum Dis 54 721–725
JY Reginster NG Khaltaev (2002) ArticleTitleIntroduction and WHO perspective on the global burden of musculoskeletal conditions. Rheumatology 41 1–2
AD Woolf K Akesson (2001) ArticleTitleUnderstanding the burden of musculoskeletal conditions. The burden is huge and not reflected in national health priorities. Br Med J 322 1079–1080
Focal Point of Bone and Joint Decade is Determining Burden of Disease. American College of Rheumatology News, 2001; p. 20.
F Birrell P Croft C Cooper G Hosie G Macfarlane A Silman (2000) ArticleTitleHealth impact of pain in the hip region with and without radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis: A study of new attenders to primary care. The PCR Hip Study Group. Ann Rheum Dis 59 857–863
LM Verbrugge AM Jette (1994) ArticleTitleThe disablement process Soc Sci Med 38 1–14
IB Wilson PD Cleary (1995) ArticleTitleLinking clinical variables with health-related quality of life.A conceptual model of patient outcomes. JAMA 273 59–65
Westert GP, Schellevis FG, de Bakker DH, Groenewegen PP, Bensing IM, van der Zee J. Monitoring health inequalities through general practice: The Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice. Eur J Public Health, in press.
H Lamberts M Wood (1987) International Classification of Primary Care. Oxford University Press New York
der Waal JM van SD Bot CB Terwee DA van der Windt LM Bouter J. Dekker (2003) ArticleTitleDeterminants of the clinical course of musculoskeletal complaints in general practice: Design of a cohort study BMC Musculoskelet Disord 4 3
N Bellamy WW Buchanan CH Goldsmith J Campbell LW Stitt (1988) ArticleTitleValidation study of WOMAC: A health status instrument for measuring clinically important patient relevant outcomes to antirheumatic drug therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. J Rheumatol 15 1833–1840 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaC2MjkvVc%3D Occurrence Handle3068365
S McConnell P Kolopack AM Davis (2001) ArticleTitleThe Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC): A review of its utility and measurement properties. Arthritis Rheum 45 453–461
LD Roorda CA Jones M Waltz et al. (2004) ArticleTitleSatisfactory cross cultural equivalence of the Dutch WOMAC in patients with hip osteoarthritis waiting for arthroplasty. Ann Rheum Dis 63 36–42
JE Ware SuffixJr CD Sherbourne (1992) ArticleTitleThe MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36).I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care 30 473–483 Occurrence Handle1593914
MA Sprangers EB de Regt F Andries et al. (2000) ArticleTitleWhich chronic conditions are associated with better or poorer quality of life? J Clin Epidemiol 53 895–907
Aaronson NK, Muller M, Cohen PD, et al. Translation, validation, and norming of the Dutch language version of the SF-36 Health Survey in community and chronic disease populations. J Clin Epidemiol 1998; 1055–1068.
J Cohen (1988) Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences EditionNumber2 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Hills Dale, NJ
GR Norman JA Sloan KW Wyrwich (2003) ArticleTitleInterpretation of changes in health-related quality of life: The remarkable universality of half a standard deviation. Med Care 41 582–592
CL Haggerty RB Ness (2003) ArticleTitleWhat is chronic pain? Ann Epidemiol 13 584–585
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van der Waal, J.M., Terwee, C.B., van der Windt, D.A.W.M. et al. Health-related and overall quality of life of patients with chronic hip and knee complaints in general practice. Qual Life Res 14, 795–803 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-0801-3
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-0801-3