Phenotypic Classification and Functional Assessment in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Osteoarthritis of the knee (KOA) poses a significant challenge to patient mobility and quality of life.
• Phenotypic classification and functional assessment are crucial for personalized KOA management.
• The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) provides a standardized framework for assessing disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To phenotypically classify patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
• To dynamically assess the functional status of KOA patients using numerical data and the ICF framework.
• To evaluate the impact of different KOA phenotypes on functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 100 KOA patients was conducted.
• Patients were classified into five phenotypes based on clinical and paraclinical data: chronic pain (F1), inflammatory (F2), metabolic bone/cartilage (F3), metabolic disorders (F4), and comorbidities (F5).
• Functional status was assessed using generic qualifiers from the ICF core set at two time points.

Main Results:

• Phenotypes F4 (metabolic disorders) and F5 (comorbidities) demonstrated significant improvements across all evaluated functions.
• Improvements included reduced pain, enhanced joint and muscle mobility, and better performance in walking, dressing, and hand use.
• These functional gains indicate increased treatment efficacy in patients with comorbidities and metabolic diseases.

Conclusions:

• Phenotypic classification is valuable for understanding KOA heterogeneity.
• Patients with metabolic disorders and comorbidities may experience greater functional gains with targeted interventions.
• Optimizing KOA management requires considering individual patient phenotypes for improved quality of life.