Comorbidities in Patients With End-Stage Knee OA: Prevalence and Effect on Physical Function

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• End-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impairs physical function, quality of life (QOL), and pain.
• The influence of common comorbidities on these outcomes in knee OA patients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of comorbidities and their effect on physical function, quality of life (QOL), and pain in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 577 patients diagnosed with end-stage knee OA.
• Comorbidities assessed included osteoporosis, presarcopenia, degenerative spine disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
• Physical function was evaluated using the stair-climbing test (SCT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and timed Up and Go (TUG) test, alongside gait analysis. Self-reported outcomes included WOMAC, VAS, and EQ-5D.

Main Results:

• Osteoporosis was associated with poorer performance in SCT, TUG, and 6MWT, and increased pain.
• Presarcopenia correlated with higher SCT and TUG scores and lower 6MWT performance.
• Degenerative spine disease was linked to increased WOMAC pain and reduced gait speed. Diabetes and hypertension also showed significant associations with specific functional measures.

Conclusions:

• Comorbidities significantly affect physical function, pain, and quality of life in patients with end-stage knee OA.
• Specific comorbidities like osteoporosis, presarcopenia, and degenerative spine disease have distinct impacts on patient outcomes.
• These findings highlight the importance of addressing comorbidities in managing end-stage knee OA.