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Trajectories of Physical Work Capacity in Early Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of Hip and Knee: Results from the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) Study

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Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the 5-year course of physical work capacity of participants with early symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and/or the knee; to identify trajectories and explore the relationship between trajectories and covariates. Methods In a prospective cohort study, physical work capacity was measured at baseline, using a test protocol (functional capacity evaluation) consisting of work-related physical activities. Participants were invited to participate in 1, 2 and 5 year follow-up measurements. Multilevel analysis and latent classes analysis were performed, in models with test performances as dependent variables and age, sex, work status, self-reported function (Western Ontario McMasters Arthritis Scale—WOMAC), body mass index (BMI) and time as independent variables. Multiple imputation was used to control for the influence of missing data. Results At baseline and after 1, 2 and 5 years there were 96, 64, 61 and 35 participants. Mean (SD) age at baseline was 56 (4.9) years, 84% were females. There was no statistically significant change in test performances (lifting low and high, carrying, static overhead work, repetitive bending, repetitive rotations) between the 4 measurements. Male sex, younger age and better self-reported function were statistically significant (p < 0.05) determinants of higher performance on most of the tests; having a paid job, BMI and progression of time were not. Three trajectories were identified: ‘weak giving way’, ‘stable and able’, and ‘strong with decline’. Discussion In subgroups of participants with early symptomatic OA, determined by age, sex and self-reported function, physical work capacity seems to be a stable characteristic over 5 years.

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Acknowledgements

CHECK-cohort funded by the Dutch Arthritis Foundation on the lead of a steering committee comprising 16 members with expertise in different fields of OA chaired by Prof. Dr. J. W. J. Bijlsma and coordinated by J. Wesseling. Involved are: Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam; Kennemer Gasthuis Haarlem; Leiden University Medical Center; Maastricht University Medical Center; Martini Hospital Groningen/Allied Health Care Center for Rheum and Rehabilitation Groningen; Medical Spectrum Twente Enschede/Ziekenhuisgroep Twente Almelo; Reade, formerly Jan van Breemen Institute/VU Medical Center Amsterdam; St. Maartens-kliniek Nijmegen; University Medical Center Utrecht and Wilhelmina Hospital Assen.

Funding

The CHECK cohort study was funded by the Dutch Arthritis Foundation (Reumafonds).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saxion Universities of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 70.000, 7500 KB, Enschede, The Netherlands

    H. J. Bieleman & F. G. J. Oosterveld

  2. University Medical Centre, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    R. Stewart & M. F. Reneman

  3. Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands

    W. M. van Ittersum & C. P. van der Schans

  4. Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    K. W. Drossaers-Bakker

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  1. H. J. Bieleman
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  5. C. P. van der Schans
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Contributions

All authors have made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content and final approval of the version to be submitted. BHJ: Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation of the data, Drafting of the article, Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, Final approval of the article, Provision of study materials or patients, Statistical expertise, Obtaining of funding and Collection and assembly of data. SR: Analysis and interpretation of the data, Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, Final approval of the article, Statistical expertise. RMF: Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation of the data, Drafting of the article, Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, Final approval of the article. IWM: Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation of the data, Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, Final approval of the article, Provision of study materials or patients. SCP: Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, Final approval of the article, Collection and assembly of data. D-BKW: Conception and design, Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, Final approval of the article, Provision of study materials or patients. OFGJ: Conception and design, Drafting of the article, Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, Final approval of the article, Obtaining of funding. HJB and FGJO take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole.

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Correspondence to H. J. Bieleman.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Bieleman, H.J., Stewart, R., Reneman, M.F. et al. Trajectories of Physical Work Capacity in Early Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of Hip and Knee: Results from the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) Study. J Occup Rehabil 29, 483–492 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-018-9809-3

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