Racial Differences in Performance-Based Function and Potential Explanatory Factors Among Individuals With Knee...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Self-reported physical function in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is lower in African Americans compared to whites.
• Objective measures of physical function and their racial disparities in knee OA are not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate racial differences in objective performance-based physical function in knee OA patients.
• To identify underlying demographic, socioeconomic, psychological, and physical health factors contributing to these racial disparities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a randomized controlled trial involving 322 knee OA participants.
• Assessed performance-based physical function using the 2-minute step test (2MST), timed-up-and-go (TUG), and 30-second chair stand (30s-CST).
• Employed logistic regression, adjusting for various covariate sets to analyze race differences.

Main Results:

• African Americans exhibited significantly higher unadjusted odds of poorer performance on all three functional tests compared to whites.
• These racial differences in function were maintained after adjusting for demographic and psychological health variables.
• Adjustment for physical health and socioeconomic variables partially attenuated or eliminated the observed racial disparities in function.

Conclusions:

• African American knee OA patients demonstrated poorer objective physical function compared to white patients.
• Physical health and socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in diminishing racial disparities in functional outcomes.
• Addressing these factors may be key to mitigating racial inequities in knee OA management.