Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) can cause considerable impairment of functional capacity and quality of life (QoL), especially in elderly individuals.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of KOA on the functional capacity and QoL of elderly patients and to identify the factors associated with their impairment.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including patients aged 65 years or more with primary KOA. Functional capacity was assessed using the WOMAC index and QoL using the WHOQOL-OLD instrument. The p significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: Fifty patients were included, 3 men and 47 women, with a mean age of 71.9 ± 6.3 years. The mean WOMAC total score was 49.2 ± 21.7, WOMAC pain 12 ± 5.2, WOMAC function 33.4 ± 15.2 and WOMAC stiffness 4 ± 2.6. Factors associated with better functional capacity were the use of analgesics, functional rehabilitation and physical activity. The mean WOQOL-OLD total score was 84.2 ± 13.4. The autonomy and intimacy dimensions had the highest scores (92.1 ± 13.8 and 91.3 ± 16.5 respectively). The death and dying dimension had the lowest score (69.9 ± 37.1). Factors associated with a poor QoL were diabetes, unilateral involvement, duration of KOA, absence of analgesic treatment and the absence of physical activity. Functional limitation was significantly associated with poorer QoL.

Conclusion: In our study, KOA was found to be associated with impaired functional capacity and QoL among elderly patients. Comorbidities, inadequate use of analgesics and lack of physical activity seem to be determining factors contributing to this impairment.