Patient-reported measures of quality of life and functional capacity in adhesive capsulitis

To evaluate patient-reported measures of quality of life and functional capacity in adhesive capsulitis before and after suprascapular nerve block treatment; to analyze the influence of clinical and sociodemographic variables on both the outcome and correlation between the respective instruments.

A prospective clinical study was performed with adhesive capsulitis patients. Inclusion criteria were clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis and a shoulder imaging test. The WHOQOL-BREF and DASH instruments were administered before and after treatment. A Constant test score of 55 points was used as a cutoff point for discontinuation of treatment. Mean values were compared using paired t-test and Wilcoxon. The Pearson or Spearman coefficients were used for correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out using variables with p<0.20 as predictors in univariate analysis and WHOQOL domains and DASH as outcomes. The significance level was 5%.

Forty-three patients were evaluated. The comparison between WHOQOL-BREF and DASH mean values before and after the blocks, p<0.05. DASH correlated negatively with the physical, psychological and environmental WHOQOL-BREF domains. Older patients and those with higher levels of education influenced the improvement in patients' quality of life and functional capacity.

The improvement of adhesive capsulitis with treatment involves an improvement in quality of life and functional capacity. The greater functional capacity of the shoulder matches a better quality of life for patients. Age and education level are the variables that most influence improvement in quality of life and functional capacity.