Osteoarthritis: Models for appropriate care across the disease continuum

Determining Appropriateness of Total Joint Arthroplasty for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Patient-Centred Conceptual Model

INTRODUCTION

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) for osteoarthritis is one of several treatment options with benefits and harms that patients value differently. However, the process for determining TJA appropriateness does not sufficiently acknowledge patient perspectives. The aim of this paper is to propose an evidence-informed patient-centred conceptual model for elective TJA appropriateness for hip and knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

Our interprofessional team developed a conceptual model for determining the appropriateness of adults considering elective TJA. The model was informed by a review of the evidence, a qualitative study we conducted with adults who underwent TJA for osteoarthritis to determine barriers and facilitators to the use of appropriateness criteria, and the research and clinical experience of team members.

RESULTS

Appropriateness is providing health services (e.g., TJA) with net benefits to the right patient at the right time. The proposed Patient-centred Elective TJA Appropriateness Conceptual Model involves three key steps. First, assess adults with osteoarthritis to determine eligibility for TJA. Second, acknowledge the patient's informed preferences including their expectations and goals. Third, explore and support their mental and physical readiness for TJA. Given that osteoarthritis is a chronic condition, these steps can be revisited over time with patients.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our proposed conceptual model reconceptualises the appropriateness of TJA to be more patient-centred. Hence, this approach has the potential to be a more inclusive approach and ensure patients undergoing TJA are eligible, ready to proceed, and achieve what matters most to them. Future research is needed to test and validate the model.

Use of Implementation Strategies to Promote the Uptake of Knee Osteoarthritis Practice Guidelines and Improve Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Translation of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to practice remains suboptimal. The primary purpose of this systematic review was to describe the use of implementation strategies to promote KOA CPG-recommended care.

METHODS

Medline (via PubMed), Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched from inception to February 23, 2023, and the search was subsequently updated and expanded on January 16, 2024. Implementation strategies were mapped per the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change taxonomy. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care criteria. The review was registered prospectively (PROSPERO identifier: CRD42023402383).

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in the final review. All (100% [n = 4]) studies that included the domains of "provide interactive assistance," "train and educate stakeholders" (89% [n = 16]), "engage consumers" (87% [n = 13]), and "support clinicians" (79% [n = 11]) showed a change to provider adherence. Studies that showed a change to disability included the domains of "train and educate stakeholders," "engage consumers," and "adapt and tailor to context." Studies that used the domains "train and educate stakeholders," "engage consumers," and "support clinicians" showed a change in pain and quality of life. Most studies had a low to moderate RoB.

CONCLUSION

Implementation strategies have the potential to impact clinician uptake of CPGs and patient-reported outcomes. The implementation context, using an active learning strategy with a patient partner, restructuring funding models, and integrating taxonomies to tailor multifaceted strategies should be prioritized. Further experimental research is recommended to determine which implementation strategies are most effective.

Collaborative model of care between orthopaedics and allied healthcare professionals (CONNACT) in knee osteoarthritis: Effectiveness-implementation hybrid randomized controlled trial of a community-based, multidisciplinary, stratified intervention

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical and cost effectiveness of the Collaborative Model of Care between Orthopaedics and Allied Healthcare Professionals (CONNACT), a community-based, stratified, multidisciplinary intervention consisting of exercise, education, psychological and nutrition delivered through a chronic care model to usual hospital care in adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Pragmatic, parallel-arm, single-blinded superiority RCT trial. Community-dwelling, ambulant adults with knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade > 1; Knee Injury and OA Outcome Score (KOOS4) ≤75) were enrolled. Primary outcome was KOOS4 at 12-months; secondary outcomes included: quality of life, physical performance measures, symptom satisfaction, psychological outcomes, dietary habits, and global perceived effect. Intention-to-treat analysis using generalized linear model (GLM) and regression modeling were conducted. Economic evaluation through a societal approach was embedded.

RESULTS

110 participants (55 control, 55 intervention) were randomized. No between-group difference found for the primary outcome (MD [95%CI]: -1.86 [-9.11. 5.38]), although both groups demonstrated within-group improvement over 12-months. Among the secondary outcomes, the CONNACT group demonstrated superior dietary change (12 months) and physical performance measures (3 months), and global perceived effect (6 months). While there was no between-group difference in total cost, significant productivity gains (reduced indirect cost) were seen in the CONNACT group.

CONCLUSION

CONNACT was not superior to usual care at 1 year. Further efforts are needed to understand the underlying contextual and implementation factors in order to further improve and refine such community-based, stratified care models moving forward.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03809975. Registered January 18, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03809975.

Implementing an osteoarthritis management program to deliver guideline-driven care for knee and hip osteoarthritis in a U.S. academic health system

Objective

Assess implementation feasibility and outcomes for an Osteoarthritis Management Program (OAMP) at an academic center.

Design

This open study assessed an OAMP designed to deliver care in 1-5 individual or group visits across ≤12 months. Eligibility included adults with knee or hip osteoarthritis with ≥1 visit from 7/1/2017-1/15/2021. A multidisciplinary care team provided: education on osteoarthritis, self-management, exercise, weight loss; pharmacologic management; assessments of mood, sleep, quality of life, and diet. Clinic utilization and growth are reported through 2022. Patient outcomes of body mass index (BMI), pain, and function were analyzed using multivariable general linear models. OAMP outcomes were feasibility and sustainability.

Results

Most patients were locally referred by primary care. 953 patients attended 2531 visits (average visits 2.16, treatment duration 187.9 days). Most were female (72.6%), older (62.1), white (91.1%), and had medical insurance (95.4%). Obesity was prevalent (84.7% BMI ≥30, average BMI 40.9), mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 1.89, and functional testing was below average. Longitudinal modeling revealed statistically but not clinically significant pain reduction (4.4-3.9 on 0-10 scale, p ​= ​0.002). BMI did not significantly change (p ​= ​0.87). Higher baseline pain and BMI correlated with greater reductions in each posttreatment. Uninsured patients had shorter treatment duration. Increasing clinic hours (4-24 ​h weekly) and serving 953 patients over four years demonstrated OAMP sustainability.

Conclusions

OAMP implementation was feasible and sustainable. Patients with high baseline pain and BMI were more likely to improve. Noninsurance was a barrier. These results contribute to understanding OAMP outcomes in U.S. healthcare.

Optimising the implementation of evidence-based osteoarthritis guidelines in primary care: Development of a Knowledge Mobilisation Toolkit

OBJECTIVE

Implementing clinical guidelines for osteoarthritis (OA) in primary care is complex. Whilst international guidelines detail what best practice for OA looks like, little is known about how this is best implemented. Limited resources are available to guideline developers, practitioners, researchers, or the public to facilitate implementation. Set in the context of a larger research project which sought to understand the factors that influence knowledge mobilisation (KM) in implementation for OA guidelines, this study reports the development of a toolkit to optimise KM for the implementation of evidence-based OA guidelines in primary care.

DESIGN

Triangulation of three qualitative data sets was conducted, followed by a stakeholder consensus exercise. Public contributors were involved in dedicated meetings (n = 3) to inform the content, design, and KM plans for the toolkit.

RESULTS

From data triangulation, 53 key findings were identified, which were refined into 30 draft recommendation statements, within six domains: approaches to KM; the knowledge mobiliser role; understanding context; implementation planning; the nature of the intervention; and appealing to a range of priorities. Stakeholder voting (n = 27) demonstrated consensus with the recommendations and informed the wording of the final toolkit.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors that optimise KM for OA guideline implementation in primary care were identified. Empirical data, practice-based evidence, implementation practice, and stakeholder (including patient and public) engagement have informed a toolkit comprising several overarching principles of KM, which are suitable for use in primary care. Consideration of equitable access when implementing evidence-based OA care among diverse populations is recommended when using the toolkit. Further research is needed to evaluate the toolkit's utility and transferability.

Medium-term patient's satisfaction after primary total knee arthroplasty: enhancing prediction for improved care

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is low compared to other orthopedic procedures. Although several factors have been reported to influence TKA outcomes, it is still challenging to identify patients who will experience dissatisfaction five years after surgery, thereby improving their management. Indeed, both perioperative information and follow-up questionnaires seem to lack statistical predictive power.

HYPOTHESIS

This study aims to demonstrate that machine learning can improve the prediction of patient satisfaction, especially when classical statistics fail to identify complex patterns that lead to dissatisfaction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent primary TKA were included in a Registry that collected baseline data and clinical outcomes at different follow-ups. The patients were divided into satisfied and dissatisfied groups based on a satisfaction questionnaire administered five years after surgery. Satisfaction was predicted using linear statistical models compared to machine learning algorithms.

RESULTS

A total of 147 subjects were analyzed. Regarding statistics, significant differences between satisfaction levels started emerging only six months after the intervention, and the classification was close to random guessing. However, machine learning algorithms could improve the prediction by 72% soon after the intervention, and an improvement of 178% was possible when including follow-ups up to one year.

DISCUSSION

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a registry-based approach for monitoring and predicting satisfaction using ML algorithms.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

An Online Program for Primary Care Practitioners to Enhance Confidence in Ability to Care for Patients With or at Risk of Painful Knee Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Primary care practitioners (PCPs) care for the majority of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Despite the existing evidence-based guidelines, PCPs often feel unequipped to evaluate and effectively treat patients with KOA. To address this need, we designed and implemented a free internet-based program focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of KOA. We assessed whether the program led to improvements in participants' confidence in their knowledge and skills related to effectively recognizing and caring for patients with or at risk of KOA.

METHODS

We used Caffarella's integrative model to develop a program aligned with the American College of Rheumatology 2019 Guideline for the treatment of KOA. The program incorporated 18 case-based questions to provide retrieval practice and mastery experiences. We assessed changes in participants' confidence in their KOA knowledge and skills after program completion.

RESULTS

Of the first 353 learners completing the program, 53.8% were women, 41.9% had a clinical focus in primary care, and 69.1% were nonphysicians. Overall confidence in KOA knowledge and skills improved after program completion (P < 0.001; effect size = 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.12-1.45), with largest improvements among participants with lower pre-program confidence. A total of 95.8% of participants indicated they would recommend the program to others.

CONCLUSION

A free online program focusing on the effective care for patients with KOA attracted a wide range of learners, even though it targeted PCPs. Participants overwhelmingly endorsed it as highly relevant and would recommend it to others. Whether improvements in confidence translate into better patient outcomes is an important area for future research.

The Critical Role of Physical Activity and Weight Management in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review

Physical activity (PA) and weight management are critical components of an effective knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) management plan, yet most people with OA remain insufficiently active and/or overweight. Clinicians and their care teams play an important role in educating patients with OA about PA and weight management, eliciting patient motivation to engage in these strategies, and referring patients to appropriate self-management interventions. The purpose of this review is to educate clinicians about the current public health and clinical OA guidelines for PA and weight management and highlight a variety of evidence-based self-management interventions available in community and clinical settings and online.

Regulation of Oxygen Tension as a Strategy to Control Chondrocytic Phenotype for Cartilage Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

Cartilage defects and osteoarthritis are health problems which are major burdens on health care systems globally, especially in aging populations. Cartilage is a vulnerable tissue, which generally faces a progressive degenerative process when injured. This makes it the 11th most common cause of global disability. Conservative methods are used to treat the initial phases of the illness, while orthopedic management is the method used for more progressed phases. These include, for instance, arthroscopic shaving, microfracturing and mosaicplasty, and joint replacement as the final treatment. Cell-based implantation methods have also been developed. Despite reports of successful treatments, they often suffer from the non-optimal nature of chondrocyte phenotype in the repair tissue. Thus, improved strategies to control the phenotype of the regenerating cells are needed. Avascular tissue cartilage relies on diffusion for nutrients acquisition and the removal of metabolic waste products. A low oxygen content is also present in cartilage, and the chondrocytes are, in fact, well adapted to it. Therefore, this raises an idea that the regulation of oxygen tension could be a strategy to control the chondrocyte phenotype expression, important in cartilage tissue for regenerative purposes. This narrative review discusses the aspects related to oxygen tension in the metabolism and regulation of articular and growth plate chondrocytes and progenitor cell phenotypes, and the role of some microenvironmental factors as regulators of chondrocytes.

Epigenetics in Knee Osteoarthritis: A 2020-2023 Update Systematic Review

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability in the world. The scientific literature highlights the critical importance of epigenetic regulatory effects, intertwined with biomechanical and biochemical peculiar conditions within each musculoskeletal district. While the contribution of genetic and epigenetic factors to knee OA is well-recognized, their precise role in disease management remains an area of active research. Such a field is particularly heterogeneous, calling for regular analysis and summarizing of the data that constantly emerge in the scientific literature, often sparse and scant of integration. The aim of this study was to systematically identify and synthesize all new evidence that emerged in human and animal model studies published between 2020 and 2023. This was necessary because, to the best of our knowledge, articles published before 2019 (and partly 2020) had already been included in systematic reviews that allowed to identify the ones concerning the knee joint. The review was carried out in accordance with Preferential Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only peer-reviewed articles were considered for inclusion. A total of 40 studies were identified, showing promising results in terms either of biomarker identification, new insight in mechanism of action or potential therapeutic targets for knee OA. DNA methylation, histone modification and ncRNA were all mechanisms involved in epigenetic regulation of the knee. Most recent evidence suggests that epigenetics is a most promising field with the long-term goal of improving understanding and management of knee OA, but a variety of research approaches need greater consolidation.

The effect of attending rehabilitation after traumatic knee joint injury on femoral articular cartilage morphology in collegiate rugby players with a history of intracapsular knee joint injury during two-year consecutive rugby seasons

Introduction

This present study aimed to compare ultrasonographic measures of femoral articular cartilage during two-year seasons between collegiate rugby players who have attended supervised rehabilitation following intracapsular knee joint injury and those without a history of knee injury.

Methods

Using a prospective observational study design, 12 male collegiate rugby players with a previous history of intracapsular knee joint injury who have received and completed supervised rehabilitation following their injury and 44 players without knee joint injury participated in this study. Ultrasonographic images were used to verify changes in femoral articular cartilage thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) with or without a previous history of knee joint injury over two consecutive rugby seasons.

Results

Significant time main effects were observed for the lateral condylar thickness (p < 0.001), the intercondylar thickness (p = 0.001), the medial condylar thickness (p < 0.001), and CSA (p < 0.001). No significant interactions nor group main effects were identified for all femoral articular cartilage (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Collegiate rugby players demonstrated a decrease in femoral articular cartilage thickness and CSA over two-year consecutive rugby seasons. These findings indicate that engaging in collegiate rugby induces alterations in femoral articular cartilage structure. Furthermore, there were no differences in all femoral cartilage outcome measures between rugby players with and without a previous history of traumatic knee joint injury. Therefore, attending supervised rehabilitation at the time of their knee joint injury appeared to reduce the impact of a previous history of intracapsular knee joint injury on the change in femoral articular cartilage thickness and CSA among active rugby players.

Longer-term quality of care, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of implementing a model of care for osteoarthritis: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the quality of care, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness over 12 months after implementing a structured model of care for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) in primary healthcare as compared to usual care.

DESIGN

In this pragmatic cluster-randomized, controlled trial with a stepped-wedge cohort design, we recruited 40 general practitioners (GPs), 37 physiotherapists (PTs), and 393 patients with symptomatic hip or knee OA from six municipalities (clusters) in Norway. The model included the delivery of a 3-hour patient education and 8-12 weeks individually tailored exercise programs, and interactive workshops for GPs and PTs. At 12 months, the patient-reported quality of care was assessed by the OsteoArthritis Quality Indicator questionnaire (16 items, pass rate 0-100%, 100%=best). Costs were obtained from patient-reported and national register data. Cost-effectiveness at the healthcare perspective was evaluated using incremental net monetary benefit (INMB).

RESULTS

Of 393 patients, 109 were recruited during the control periods (control group) and 284 were recruited during interventions periods (intervention group). At 12 months the intervention group reported statistically significant higher quality of care compared to the control group (59% vs. 40%; mean difference: 17.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.1, 24.0)). Cost-effectiveness analyses showed that the model of care resulted in quality-adjusted life-years gained and cost-savings compared to usual care with mean INMB €2020 (95% CI 611, 3492) over 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that implementing the model of care for OA in primary healthcare, improved quality of care and showed cost-effectiveness over 12 months compared to usual care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02333656.

Long Non-coding RNA DLEU1 Promotes Progression of Osteoarthritis via miR-492/TLR8 Axis

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are generally reported to participate in the development of Osteoarthritis (OA) by acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). However, the molecular mechanism is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms contributing to osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Four gene expression profiles from patients with OA were downloaded from a public database and integrated to screen important RNAs associated with OA. Differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs were filtered, and a ceRNA network was constructed. An in vitro OA model was established by treating chondrocytes with IL-1β. The expression levels of MMP-13, COL2A1, aggrecan, and RUNX2 were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell proliferation ability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used for apoptosis assay. A dual luciferase reporter gene was used to confirm the relationship between DLEU1, miR-492, and TLR8.

RESULTS

An OA-related ceRNA network, including 11 pathways, 3 miRNAs, 7 lncRNAs, and 16 mRNAs, was constructed. DLEU1 and TLR8 were upregulated, and miR-492 was downregulated in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Overexpression of DLEU1 suppressed viability and promoted apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in IL-1β induced chondrocytes. Luciferase reporter assay validated the regulatory relations among DLEU1, miR-492, and TLR8. Further study revealed that the effects of DLEU1 on chondrocytes could be reversed by miR-492.

CONCLUSION

DLEU1 may be responsible for the viability, apoptosis, and ECM degradation in OA via miR-492/TLR8 axis.

The OARSI Joint Effort Initiative: Priorities for osteoarthritis management program implementation and research 2024-2028

Objective

The Joint Effort Initiative (JEI) is an international collaboration of clinicians, researchers, and consumer organisations with a shared vision of improving the implementation of osteoarthritis management programs (OAMPs). This study aimed to identify JEI's future priorities and guide direction.

Design

A two-part international survey to prioritise topics of importance to our membership and research stakeholders. Survey one presented a list of 40 topics under 5 themes. Consenting participants were asked to choose their top three topics in each theme. A short list of 25 topics was presented in survey two. Participants were asked to rank the importance (100-point NRS scale, 100 ​= ​highest priority). Response frequency (median, IQR) was used to rank the top priorities by theme.

Results

Ninety-five participants completed survey one (61% female, 48% clinicians) and 57 completed survey two. The top ranked topic/s were:i. Promotion and advocacy: support training for health professionals (median 85, IQR 24).ii. Education and training: incorporating behaviour change into OAMPs (80, 16), advanced OA skills (80, 30), and integration of OA education into clinical training (80, 36).iii. Improving OAMPs delivery: regular updates on changes to best-evidence OA care (84, 24).iv. Future research: improve uptake of exercise, physical activity, and weight-loss (89, 16).v. Enhancing relationships, alliances, and shared knowledge: promote research collaborations (81, 30), share challenges and opportunities for OAMP implementation (80, 23).

Conclusions

These topics will set the JEI's research and collaboration agenda for the next 5 years and stimulate ideas for others working in the field.

How Does Exercise, With and Without Diet, Improve Pain and Function in Knee Osteoarthritis? A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial Exploring Potential Mediators of Effects

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mediators of effects of two 6-month telehealth-delivered exercise programs, including exercise with and without weight-loss diet, on pain and function improvements in knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Secondary analysis of 345 participants from a 3-arm randomized controlled trial of exercise (Exercise program) and exercise plus diet (Diet + Exercise program) versus information (Control program) was conducted. Outcomes were changes in pain (11-point numeric rating scale) and function (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [score range 0-68]) at 12 months. Potential mediators were change at 6 months in attitudes toward self-management, fear of movement, arthritis self-efficacy, weight, physical activity, and willingness for knee surgery. For the Diet + Exercise program versus the Exercise program, only change in weight was evaluated.

RESULTS

Possible mediators of the Exercise program versus the Control program included reduced fear of movement (accounting for -1.11 units [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -2.15, -0.07] improvement in function) and increased arthritis self-efficacy (-0.40 units [95% CI -0.75, -0.06] reduction in pain, -1.66 units [95% CI -3.04, -0.28] improvement in function). The Diet + Exercise program versus the Control program mediators included reduced fear of movement (-1.13 units [95% CI -2.17, -0.08] improvement in function), increased arthritis self-efficacy (-0.77 units [95% CI -1.26, -0.28] reduction in pain, -5.15 units [95% CI -7.34, -2.96] improvement in function), and weight loss (-1.20 units [95% CI -1.73, -0.68] reduction in pain, -5.79 units [95% CI -7.96, -3.63] improvement in function). Weight loss mediated the Diet + Exercise program versus the Exercise program (-0.89 units [95% CI -1.31, -0.47] reduction in pain, -4.02 units [95% CI -5.77, -2.26] improvement in function).

CONCLUSION

Increased arthritis self-efficacy, reduced fear of movement, and weight loss may partially mediate telehealth-delivered exercise program effects, with and without diet, on pain and/or function in knee OA. Weight loss may partially mediate the effect of diet and exercise compared to exercise alone.

Core Recommendations for Osteoarthritis Care: A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for interventions in management of osteoarthritis (OA) and to provide a synthesis of high-quality CPG recommendations.

METHODS

Five databases (OvidSP Medline, Cochrane, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL], Embase, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database [PEDro]) and 4 online guideline repositories were searched. CPGs for the management of OA were included if they were 1) written in English and published from January 2015 to February 2022, focused on adults age ≥18 years, and met the criteria of a CPG as defined by the Institute of Medicine; and 2) were rated as high quality on the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. CPGs for OA were excluded if they were available via institutional access only, only addressed recommendations for the system/organization of care and did not include interventional management recommendations, and/or included other arthritic conditions.

RESULTS

Of 20 eligible CPGs, 11 were appraised as high quality and included in the synthesis. Of interest were the hip, knee, hand, and glenohumeral joints and/or polyarticular OA. Consistent recommendations were that care should be patient centered and include exercise, education, and weight loss (where appropriate). Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and surgical interventions were recommended for disabling OA that had not improved with nonsurgical care. Hand orthoses should be recommended for patients with hand OA.

CONCLUSION

This synthesis of high-quality CPGs for OA management offers health care providers with clear, simple guidance of recommended OA care to improve patient outcomes.

Evaluating Osteoarthritis Management Programs: outcome domain recommendations from the OARSI Joint Effort Initiative

OBJECTIVE

To develop sets of core and optional recommended domains for describing and evaluating Osteoarthritis Management Programs (OAMPs), with a focus on hip and knee Osteoarthritis (OA).

DESIGN

We conducted a 3-round modified Delphi survey involving an international group of researchers, health professionals, health administrators and people with OA. In Round 1, participants ranked the importance of 75 outcome and descriptive domains in five categories: patient impacts, implementation outcomes, and characteristics of the OAMP and its participants and clinicians. Domains ranked as "important" or "essential" by ≥80% of participants were retained, and participants could suggest additional domains. In Round 2, participants rated their level of agreement that each domain was essential for evaluating OAMPs: 0 = strongly disagree to 10 = strongly agree. A domain was retained if ≥80% rated it ≥6. In Round 3, participants rated remaining domains using same scale as in Round 2; a domain was recommended as "core" if ≥80% of participants rated it ≥9 and as "optional" if ≥80% rated it ≥7.

RESULTS

A total of 178 individuals from 26 countries participated; 85 completed all survey rounds. Only one domain, "ability to participate in daily activities", met criteria for a core domain; 25 domains met criteria for an optional recommendation: 8 Patient Impacts, 5 Implementation Outcomes, 5 Participant Characteristics, 3 OAMP Characteristics and 4 Clinician Characteristics.

CONCLUSION

The ability of patients with OA to participate in daily activities should be evaluated in all OAMPs. Teams evaluating OAMPs should consider including domains from the optional recommended set, with representation from all five categories and based on stakeholder priorities in their local context.

Effectiveness of a New Service Delivery Model for Management of Knee Osteoarthritis in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and health costs of a new primary care service delivery model (the Optimising Primary Care Management of Knee Osteoarthritis [PARTNER] model) to improve health outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared to usual care.

METHODS

This study was a 2-arm, cluster, superiority, randomized controlled trial with randomization at the general practice level, undertaken in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. We aimed to recruit 44 practices and 572 patients age ≥45 years with knee pain for >3 months. Professional development opportunities on best practice OA care were provided to intervention group general practitioners (GPs). All recruited patients had an initial GP visit to confirm knee OA diagnosis. Control patients continued usual GP care, and intervention patients were referred to a centralized care support team (CST) for 12-months. Via telehealth, the CST provided OA education and an agreed OA action plan focused on muscle strengthening, physical activity, and weight management. Primary outcomes were patient self-reported change in knee pain (Numerical Rating Scale [range 0-10; higher score = worse]) and physical function (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score activities of daily living subscale [range 0-100; higher score = better] at 12 months. Health care cost outcomes included costs of medical visits and prescription medications over the 12-month period.

RESULTS

Recruitment targets were not reached. A total of 38 practices and 217 patients were recruited. The intervention improved pain by 0.8 of 10 points (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.2, 1.4) and function by 6.5 of 100 points (95% CI 2.3, 10.7), more than usual care at 12 months. Total costs of medical visits and prescriptions were $3,940 (Australian) for the intervention group versus $4,161 for usual care. This difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The PARTNER model improved knee pain and function more than usual GP care. The magnitude of improvement is unlikely to be clinically meaningful for pain but is uncertain for function.

Evidence Review for Preventing Osteoarthritis After an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: An Osteoarthritis Action Alliance Consensus Statement

CONTEXT

The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance formed a secondary prevention task group to develop a consensus on secondary prevention recommendations to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis after a knee injury.

OBJECTIVE

Our goal was to provide clinicians with secondary prevention recommendations that are intended to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis after a person has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Specifically, this manuscript describes our methods, literature reviews, and dissenting opinions to elaborate on the rationale for our recommendations and to identify critical gaps.

DESIGN

Consensus process.

SETTING

Virtual video conference calls and online voting.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

The Secondary Prevention Task Group consisted of 29 members from various clinical backgrounds.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The group initially convened online in August 2020 to discuss the target population, goals, and key topics. After a second call, the task group divided into 9 subgroups to draft the recommendations and supportive text for crucial content areas. Twenty-one members completed 2 rounds of voting and revising the recommendations and supportive text between February and April 2021. A virtual meeting was held to review the wording of the recommendations and obtain final votes. We defined consensus as >80% of voting members supporting a proposed recommendation.

RESULTS

The group achieved consensus on 15 of 16 recommendations. The recommendations address patient education, exercise and rehabilitation, psychological skills training, graded-exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral counseling (lacked consensus), outcomes to monitor, secondary injury prevention, system-level social support, leveraging technology, and coordinated care models.

CONCLUSIONS

This consensus statement reflects information synthesized from an interdisciplinary group of experts based on the best available evidence from the literature or personal experience. We hope this document raises awareness among clinicians and researchers to take steps to mitigate the risk of osteoarthritis after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Navigating the maze of osteoarthritis treatment: A qualitative study exploring the experience of individuals with osteoarthritis in Tasmania, Australia

OBJECTIVE

Using a qualitative design this study aimed to (1) explore the experience of people living with osteoarthritis (OA), (2) gain an understanding of their navigation of the health system and, (3) explore their opinions on the role of exercise and joint replacement surgery for the management of OA.

METHODS

Purposive sampling was used to recruit 26 participants with knee OA, aged 45 years and over, from Tasmania, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and thematically analysed to document participant understanding and experience of OA and their opinions on the role of exercise and surgery in managing OA.

RESULTS

Of the 26 participants, 80% (n = 21) were female with a mean age of 66 years. The main theme identified was that individuals with knee OA were navigating a maze of OA treatments. Three related subthemes were that participants: (i) perceived their general practitioner did not have an ongoing role in their OA care, (ii) self-directed their management and, (iii) sampled from a 'smorgasbord' of treatment options, including low-value care options. Two other major themes were: the role of exercise for OA management, and surgery as a last resort.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that OA patients may not be choosing consistent, high-value care for their OA. This highlights the importance of an evidence-based multi-disciplinary approach to guide patients to self-manage their OA and support their navigation of the health system. Reducing emphasis on the pathway to surgery and streamlining access to conservative management strategies may assist people to receive high-value care.

Gait biomechanics phenotypes among total knee arthroplasty candidates by machine learning cluster analysis

Knee osteoarthritis patient phenotyping is relevant to developing targeted treatments and assessing the treatment efficacy of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to identify clusters among TKA candidates based on demographic and knee mechanic features during gait, and compare gait changes between clusters postoperatively. TKA patients underwent 3D gait analysis 1-week pre (n = 134) and 1-year post-TKA (n = 105). Principal component analysis was applied to frontal and sagittal knee angle and moment waveforms, extracting major patterns of variability. Age, sex, body mass index, gait speed, and frontal and sagittal pre-TKA angle and moment PC scores previously identified as relevant to TKA outcomes were standardized (mean = 0, SD = 1, [134 × 15]). Multidimensional scaling and machine learning-based hierarchical clustering were applied. Final clusters were validated by examining intercluster differences pre-TKA and gait feature changes (Post_PCscore  - Pre_PCscore ) by k-way Χ² and ANOVA tests. Four TKA candidate phenotypes yielded optimum clustering metrics, interpreted as higher and lower functioning clusters that were predominantly male and female. Higher functioning clusters pre-TKA (clusters 1 and 4) had more dynamic sagittal flexion moment (p < 0.001) and frontal plane adduction moment (p < 0.001) loading/un-loading patterns during stance. Post-TKA, higher functioning clusters demonstrated less knee mechanic improvements during gait (flexion angle p < 0.001; flexion moment p < 0.001). TKA candidates can be characterized by four clusters, predominately separated by sex and knee joint biomechanics. Post-TKA knee kinematics and kinetics improvements were cluster-specific; lower functioning clusters experienced more improvement. Cluster-based patient profiling may aid in triaging and developing OA management and surgical strategies meeting group-level function needs.

Do Patients With Intersectional Disadvantage Have Poorer Outcomes From Osteoarthritis Management Programs? A Tapered Balancing Study of Patient Outcomes From the Good Life With Osteoarthritis in Denmark Program

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether adults with potential multiple social disadvantage have poorer outcomes following attendance in an osteoarthritis (OA) management program (OAMP), and if so, what might determine this result.

METHODS

Among consecutive knee OA attendees of the Good Life With Osteoarthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) OAMP in Denmark we defined a group with potential "intersectional disadvantage" based on self-reported educational attainment, country of birth, and citizenship. Outcomes of this group were compared with GLA:D participants who were native Danish citizens with higher educational attainment. Outcomes were pain intensity, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) quality of life subscale score, and the EuroQol 5-domain instrument in 5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) score at 3 and 12 months. After data preprocessing, we used entropy balancing to sequentially control for differences between the groups in baseline covariates. Mean between-group differences in outcomes were estimated by weighted linear regression.

RESULTS

Of 18,448 eligible participants, 250 (1.4%) were nonnative/foreign citizens with lower education. After balancing for differences in baseline score and in administrative and demographic characteristics, they had poorer outcomes than higher-educated native Danish citizens on pain intensity and EQ-5D-5L score at both follow-up points (e.g., between-group mean differences in pain visual analog scale [0-100] at 3 and 12 months: 3.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.5, 7.3] and 6.2 [95% CI 1.7, 10.7], respectively). Differences in KOOS quality of life subscale score, were smaller or absent. Balancing for differences on baseline score, comorbidity, self-efficacy, and depression had the greatest effect on reducing observed outcome inequalities.

CONCLUSION

Outcome inequalities widened following OAMP attendance, particularly at longer-term follow-up, but the magnitude of differences was generally modest and inconsistent across outcome measures. Tailoring content to reduce outcome inequalities may be indicated, but improving access appears the greater priority.

Evaluation of disease burden, patient journey, unmet diagnosis and treatment needs of patients with HIP and knee osteoarthritis in Turkey: A study through Delphi Methodology

Objective

To get information-driven insights from expert physicians regarding multiple aspects of the patient journey in knee and hip OA and establish a consensus for future studies and decision tree models in Turkey.

Design

157 questions were asked in total during this three-round modified Delphi-method panel to 10 physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists (2 have rheumatology and 3 have algology subspeciality), one orthopaedic surgeon and one algology specialist from anaesthesia specialty background. A consensus was achieved when 80% of the panel members agreed with an item. Contradictions between different disciplines were accepted as a non-consensus factor.

Results

Panellists agreed that American College of Rheumatology classification criteria is mostly sufficient to provide an OA diagnosis in clinical practice, OA patients with ≥5 Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain or physical function score can be defined as moderate-to-severe OA if they have an additional ≥2 Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) score, a minimum improvement of 30% from baseline in WOMAC pain or function subscales or in PGA score can be accepted as moderate treatment response where ≥50% improvement from baseline in those scores as substantial response. Panellists stated that arthroplasty procedures need to be delayed as long as possible, but this delay should not jeopardize a beneficial and successful operation.

Conclusions

These findings show that there is a significant disease burden, unmet treatment needs for patients with moderate-to-severe OA in Turkey from experts' perspective. Therefore, an updated systematic approach and decision tree models are needed to be implemented.

What affects the implementation of lifestyle interventions in patients with osteoarthritis? A multidisciplinary focus group study among healthcare professionals

PURPOSE

To identify factors affecting the implementation of lifestyle interventions (LIs) in patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA) from the perspective of primary and secondary healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Dutch healthcare system.

METHODS

Multidisciplinary focus groups were composed. Data analysis was performed following thematic analysis. The Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases checklist was used to guide data analysis.

RESULTS

Four focus groups meetings were conducted with 38 participating HCPs (general practitioners (or in-training), orthopedic surgeons (or in-training), physiotherapists, dieticians, a general practice assistant, lifestyle counselors, and nurse practitioners). Influencing factors were grouped into nine themes: (1) intervention factors; (2) individual HCP factors; (3) patient factors; (4) professional interactions; (5) incentives and resources; (6) capacity for organizational change; (7) social, political and legal factors; (8) patient and HCP interactions; and (9) disease factors.

CONCLUSIONS

A wide variety of factors affecting the implementation of LIs was identified in this study, where the importance of effective interdisciplinary collaboration was emphasized by the multidisciplinary group of participants. This thorough analysis of influencing factors is an important first step toward improved implementation of LIs within OA care. Further research is required to identify the most significant targets for change in daily practice.Implications for RehabilitationThe implementation of lifestyle interventions (LIs) by healthcare professionals (HCPs) in patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA) is affected by both individual and environmental factors.The influencing factors identified in this study can support the development of interventions aimed at improving the implementation of LIs in OA care.A multilevel approach is required when developing interventions to improve the implementation of LIs in OA care.Continued efforts of both primary and secondary HCPs and policymakers are needed in order to promote the use of LIs within OA care.

Risk factors for knee osteoarthritis after traumatic knee injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and cohort studies for the OPTIKNEE Consensus

OBJECTIVE

To identify and quantify potential risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA) following traumatic knee injury.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analyses that estimated the odds of OA for individual risk factors assessed in more than four studies using random-effects models. Remaining risk factors underwent semiquantitative synthesis. The modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach for prognostic factors guided the assessment.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL searched from inception to 2009-2021.

ELIGIBILITY

Randomised controlled trials and cohort studies assessing risk factors for symptomatic or structural OA in persons with a traumatic knee injury, mean injury age ≤30 years and minimum 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Across 66 included studies, 81 unique potential risk factors were identified. High risk of bias due to attrition or confounding was present in 64% and 49% of studies, respectively. Ten risk factors for structural OA underwent meta-analysis (sex, rehabilitation for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, ACL reconstruction (ACLR), ACLR age, ACLR body mass index, ACLR graft source, ACLR graft augmentation, ACLR+cartilage injury, ACLR+partial meniscectomy, ACLR+total medial meniscectomy). Very-low certainty evidence suggests increased odds of structural OA related to ACLR+cartilage injury (OR=2.31; 95% CI 1.35 to 3.94), ACLR+partial meniscectomy (OR=1.87; 1.45 to 2.42) and ACLR+total medial meniscectomy (OR=3.14; 2.20 to 4.48). Semiquantitative syntheses identified moderate-certainty evidence that cruciate ligament, collateral ligament, meniscal, chondral, patellar/tibiofemoral dislocation, fracture and multistructure injuries increase the odds of symptomatic OA.

CONCLUSION

Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that various single and multistructure knee injuries (beyond ACL tears) increase the odds of symptomatic OA. Risk factor heterogeneity, high risk of bias, and inconsistency in risk factors and OA definition make identifying treatment targets for preventing post-traumatic knee OA challenging.

Osteoarthritis management care pathways are complex and inefficient: A qualitative study of physiotherapist perspectives from specialised osteoarthritis services

OBJECTIVE

Hip and knee osteoarthritis guidelines internationally provide consistent first-line care recommendations. However, uptake of these recommendations remains suboptimal. This qualitative study explores factors influencing guideline-based care from the perspectives of physiotherapists working in specialised osteoarthritis services across different models of care.

METHODS

Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with physiotherapists working in specialist osteoarthritis services across three different Australian models of care (OsteoArthritis Hip and Knee Service n = 10; OsteoArthritis Chronic Care Programme n = 4; Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Screening Clinics and Multidisciplinary Services n = 5). Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were coded and analysed inductively using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The overarching theme to emerge was that accessing first-line osteoarthritis care is complex and difficult, regardless of model of care. Subthemes indicated that: (i) services are either unavailable or inadequately funded, (ii) referral pathways are labyrinthine and lengthy, (iii) patients and other health professionals often believe that surgery is the only/best option and (iv) managing patient co-morbidities is challenging.

CONCLUSION

Physiotherapists working in specialised osteoarthritis services perceive multiple and complex factors influencing adherence to first-line care. Barriers occur at various levels in all models of care, including patient and health professional beliefs, health service, and system levels. These results suggest improving healthcare for people with osteoarthritis requires urgent system reform.

Knee-extensor strength, symptoms, and need for surgery after two, four, or six exercise sessions/week using a home-based one-exercise program: a randomized dose-response trial of knee-extensor resistance exercise in patients eligible for knee replacement (the QUADX-1 trial)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate firstly the efficacy of three different dosages of one home-based, knee-extensor resistance exercise on knee-extensor strength in patients eligible for knee replacement, and secondly, the influence of exercise on symptoms, physical function and decision on surgery.

METHOD

One-hundred and forty patients eligible for knee replacement were randomized to three groups: 2, 4 or 6 home-based knee-extensor resistance exercise-sessions per week (group 2, 4 and 6 respectively) for 12 weeks.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

isometric knee-extensor strength.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

Oxford Knee Score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, average knee pain last week (0-10 numeric rating scale), 6-min walk test, stair climbing test, exercise adherence and "need for surgery".

RESULTS

Primary analysis: Intention-to-treat analysis of 140 patients did not find statistically significant differences between the groups from baseline to after 12 weeks of exercise in isometric knee-extensor strength: Group 2 vs 4 (0.003 Nm/kg (0.2%) [95% CI -0.15 to 0.15], P = 0.965) and group 4 vs 6 (-0.04 Nm/kg (-2.7%) [95% CI -0.15 to 0.12], P = 0.628). Secondary analysis: Intention-to-treat analyses showed statistically significant differences between the two and six sessions/week groups in favor of the two sessions/week group for Oxford Knee Score: 4.8 OKS points (15.2%) [1.3 to 8.3], P = 0.008) and avg. knee pain last week (NRS 0-10): -1.3 NRS points (-19.5%) [-2.3 to -0.2], P = 0.018. After the 12-week exercise intervention, data were available for 117 patients (N = 39/group): 38 (32.5%) patients wanted surgery and 79 (67.5%) postponed surgery. This was independent of exercise dosage.

CONCLUSION

In patients eligible for knee-replacement we found no between-group differences in isometric knee extensor strength after 2, 4 and 6 knee-extensor resistance exercise sessions per week. We saw no indication of an exercise dose-response relationship for isometric knee-extensor strength and only clinically irrelevant within group changes. For some secondary outcome (e.g., KOOS subscales) we found clinically relevant within group changes, which could help explain why only one in three patients decided to have surgery after the simple home-based exercise intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02931058. Preprint: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.07.21254965.

Evaluation of the strategy for implementing the GLA:D programme in Switzerland: protocol for an implementation-effectiveness hybrid type 3 design study with a mixed-method approach

INTRODUCTION

International guidelines recommend the use of exercise, education and weight reduction, when appropriate, as first-line treatment for the conservative management of knee osteoarthritis (OA). These guidelines have not been applied systematically in Switzerland, resulting in an evidence-performance gap. After an analysis of available programmes, the Good Life with osteoArthritis Denmark (GLA:D) programme was determined as the most applicable exercise and education programme for its implementation in Switzerland. The implementation of GLA:D Switzerland OA was initiated to encourage the wider implementation of the clinical guideline recommendations and to improve conservative management of knee OA. The aim of this study protocol is to describe the evaluation of the implementation strategy and its impact on implementation, service and clinical outcomes; as well as to identify contributing barriers and facilitators.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Implementation Research Logic Model will be used to evaluate the strategy and analyse its impact on the implementation outcomes by means of a mixed methods approach. This protocol outlines the proposed measures, data sources and strategies for the evaluation. Predefined implementation outcomes will help to identify the implementation impact and analyse barriers and facilitators systematically. The study population will be the healthcare professionals who are involved in the conservative management of knee OA in Switzerland, that is, physiotherapists and medical doctors, and their patients.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The use of the registry data containing data of patients participating in the GLA:D Switzerland OA programme does not fall within the scope of the Swiss Human Research Act (BASEC-Nr. Req-2019-00274). However, all participants involved in the evaluation will be asked to give informed written consent and all measures are taken to protect data and privacy of participants. Research findings will be submitted to journals relevant for the topic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Not applicable.

Giving an account of patients' experience: A qualitative study on the care process of hip and knee osteoarthritis

INTRODUCTION

Despite the publication of clinical practice guidelines, the quality of the care process as experienced by patients with osteoarthritis (OA) appears suboptimal. Hence, this study investigates how patients with OA experience their disease and care process, highlighting potential elements that can enhance or spoil it, to optimise their quality of care.

METHODS

A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. Patients with hip and knee OA in Italy were interviewed. The interview guide was created by a pool of health professionals and patients. The interviews were analysed through a theme-based analysis following a philosophy of descriptive phenomenological research.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed seven main themes: (1) Experiencing a sense of uncertainty, as interviewees perceived treatment choices not to be based on medical evidence; (2) Establishing challenging relationships with the self and the other, as they did not feel understood and felt ashamed or hopeless about their condition; (3) Being stuck in one's own or the health professionals' beliefs about the disease management, as a common thought was the perception of movement as something dangerous together with a frequent prescription of passive therapies; (4) Dealing with one's own attitudes towards the disease; Understanding (5) the barriers to and (6) the facilitators of the adherence to therapeutic exercise, which revolve around the therapy cost, the time needed and the patients' willingness to change their life habits and (7) Developing an uneasy relationship with food since the diet was considered as something that "you force yourself to follow" and overeating as a way "to eat your feelings".

CONCLUSION

The lack of clear explanations and a negative attitude towards first-line nonsurgical treatments (mainly physical exercise), which are considered as a way to fill the time while waiting for surgery, underlines the importance of providing patients with adequate information about OA treatments and to better explain the role of first-line intervention in the care of OA. This will enhance patient-centred and shared decision-making treatments.

PATIENT CONTRIBUTION

Patients with hip and knee OA participated in creating the interview and contributed with their experience of their care process.

Comparing Video-Based, Telehealth-Delivered Exercise and Weight Loss Programs With Online Education on Outcomes of Knee Osteoarthritis : A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Scalable knee osteoarthritis programs are needed to deliver recommended education, exercise, and weight loss interventions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate two 6-month, telehealth-delivered exercise programs, 1 with and 1 without dietary intervention.

DESIGN

3-group, parallel randomized (5:5:2) trial. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618000930280).

SETTING

Australian private health insurance members.

PARTICIPANTS

415 persons with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and a body mass index between 28 and 40 kg/m2 who were aged 45 to 80 years.

INTERVENTION

All groups received access to electronic osteoarthritis information (control). The exercise program comprised 6 physiotherapist consultations via videoconference for exercise, self-management advice, and behavioral counseling, plus exercise equipment and resources. The diet and exercise program included an additional 6 dietitian consultations for a ketogenic very-low-calorie diet (2 formulated meal replacements and a low-carbohydrate meal daily) followed by a transition to healthy eating, as well as nutrition and behavioral resources.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcomes were changes in knee pain (numerical rating scale [NRS] of 0 to 10, higher indicating worse) and physical function (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]; scale, 0 to 68, higher indicating worse) at 6 months (primary time point) and 12 months. Secondary outcomes were weight, physical activity, quality of life, mental health, global change, satisfaction, willingness to have surgery, orthopedic appointments, and knee surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 379 participants (91%) provided 6-month primary outcomes, and 372 (90%) provided 12-month primary outcomes. At 6 months, both programs were superior to control for pain (between-group mean difference in change on NRS: diet and exercise, -1.5 [95% CI, -2.1 to -0.8]; exercise, -0.8 [CI, -1.5 to -0.2]) and function (between-group mean difference in change on WOMAC: diet and exercise, -9.8 [CI, -12.5 to -7.0]; exercise, -7.0 [CI, -9.7 to -4.2]). The diet and exercise program was superior to exercise (pain, -0.6 [CI, -1.1 to -0.2]; function, -2.8 [CI, -4.7 to -0.8]). Findings were similar at 12 months.

LIMITATION

Participants and clinicians were unblinded.

CONCLUSION

Telehealth-delivered exercise and diet programs improved pain and function in people with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity. A dietary intervention conferred modest additional pain and function benefits over exercise.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

Medibank, the Medibank Better Health Foundation Research Fund, and a National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence.

Osteoarthritis management: Does the pharmacist play a role in bridging the gap between what patients actually know and what they ought to know? Insights from a national online survey

BACKGROUND

Guidelines encourage engagement in self-care activities for osteoarthritis (OA), but there are gaps in consumers' knowledge about suitable choices for self-care. Community pharmacists are in an ideal position to contribute to OA management through screening and supporting evidence-based pain management choices. Prior research established an association between health literacy and advice-seeking and appropriateness of analgesics choices (both lower in participants with limited health literacy) amongst people living with OA. This article explores the implications of these data for pharmacists in OA management.

METHODS

A national online survey was conducted amongst 628 adults aged 45-74 years, currently residing in Australia, with self-reported symptoms of OA. All data were collected using a customized online questionnaire, which was completed only once. 'Self-reported symptoms of OA' was based on six validated screening questions to identify people with OA without a formal clinical diagnosis.

RESULTS

Respondents matched the typical profile of people diagnosed with OA; more than half were female (56%), knees (59%) and hips (31%) were the primary affected joints and 74% were either overweight or obese. Self-identification of OA was limited (41%). Overall, 38% self-managed their pain, and limited health literacy was associated with less advice-seeking. Efficacy and ease of use were the main reasons cited for prompting use across all classes of nonprescription analgesic, with less than 20% reporting recommendation from a pharmacist. Participants were managing their pain with an average of 1.74 (95% confidence interval: 1.60-1.88) analgesics, but 73% reported inadequate pain relief and 54% had disrupted sleep.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight three key themes: lack of self-identification of OA, suboptimal pain relief and limited use of the community pharmacist as a source of management advice. Equipping community pharmacists with tools to identify OA could bridge this gap. More research is needed to determine if it will improve consumers' ability to appropriately manage OA pain.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Consumers living with OA contributed to the study outcomes, reviewed the survey questionnaire for face validity and advised on plain language terminology.

Complex Lifestyle and Psychological Intervention in Knee Osteoarthritis: Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) causes pain, disability and poor quality of life in the elderly. The primary aim was to identify and map out the current evidence for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on complex lifestyle and psychosocial interventions for knee OA. The secondary aim was to outline different components of complex lifestyle and psychosocial interventions. Our scoping review searched five databases from 2000 to 2021 where complex lifestyle or psychosocial interventions for patients with knee OA were compared to other interventions. Screening and data extraction were performed by two review authors independently and discrepancies resolved through consensus and in parallel with a third reviewer. A total of 38 articles were selected: 9 studied the effectiveness of psychological interventions; 11 were on self-management and lifestyle interventions; 18 looked at multifaceted interventions. This review highlights the substantial variation in knee OA interventions and the overall lack of quality in the current literature. Potential areas of future research, including identifying prognostic social factors, stratified care models, transdisciplinary care delivery and technology augmented interventions, have been identified. Further high-quality RCTs utilizing process evaluations and economic evaluation in accordance with the MRC guidelines are critical for the development of evidence-based knee OA programs globally.

Effectiveness of patient decision aids for total hip and knee arthroplasty decision-making: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effectiveness of patient decision aids (PtDAs) compared to alternative interventions (including usual care) on decision quality and quality of the decision-making process for adults with hip and knee osteoarthritis considering primary elective total joint arthroplasty.

METHODS

A systematic review guided by Cochrane methods and PRISMA reporting guidelines. Studies were searched in five databases. Included studies were RCTs evaluating the effect of PtDAs on total joint arthroplasty decision-making. Study quality was appraised with Cochrane's risk of bias tool. Quality and strength of recommendations were appraised with GRADE.

RESULTS

Ten included studies were conducted in North American using the same PtDA. Compared to usual care, PtDA groups demonstrated increased decision quality (e.g., higher knowledge, more informed values-based choices) and quality of the decision making process (e.g., decreased decisional conflict) (6 trials). Secondary outcomes showed increased surgeon satisfaction within the consultation and no difference in patient satisfaction or uptake of the chosen option (surgery: RR 1.03, 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.25; I² = 66%; 4 trials). When PtDAs formtats were compared, there were similar effects but no difference between PtDAs (4 trials).

CONCLUSIONS

There was low to very low GRADE certainty of evidence for the effect of PtDAs on decision quality and quality of the decision-making process compared to usual care. No differences were found when different formats of PtDAs were compared (moderate to very low GRADE certainty of evidence).

Influence of commissioning arrangements on implementing and sustaining a complex healthcare intervention (ESCAPE-pain) for osteoarthritis: a qualitative case study

OBJECTIVES

Funding in health care has a critical impact on the implementation and sustainability of evidence-based interventions. This study explored the perspectives of physiotherapists on the influence of commissioning arrangements on the implementation and sustainability of a group rehabilitation programme for osteoarthritis (ESCAPE-pain).

DESIGN

A qualitative case study approach using in-depth interviews.

SETTING

National Health Service (NHS) musculoskeletal (MSK) outpatient departments in England.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty physiotherapists in clinical and senior management roles from 11 NHS MSK providers.

RESULTS

Five themes were identified: (1) clinical perspectives of ESCAPE-pain - MSK services wanted to implement and sustain ESCAPE-pain because it provided evidence-based, quality care; (2) focusing on clinical activity over outcomes - commissioners were perceived as prioritising activity-based performance over delivering clinical outcomes; (3) rationing availability - patient access to ESCAPE-pain could be limited due to rationing resources; (4) absorbing costs - contracts did not always cover the activities associated with delivering ESCAPE-pain meaning that providers bore the costs; and (5) relationship between commissioners and providers - physiotherapists perceived a disconnect with commissioners and had little power to influence decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Commissioning arrangements for MSK physiotherapy services can impede providers from implementing and sustaining a clinically and cost-effective intervention. To be implemented and sustained, an intervention needs to integrate into clinical practice and the wider healthcare system. Commissioning arrangements for MSK physiotherapy need to allow providers the flexibility to deliver interventions that best meet the needs of their patients. The move to more strategic, integrated, outcome-based commissioning has the potential to facilitate the spread and sustainability of interventions.

Downregulation of IRAK3 by miR-33b-3p relieves chondrocyte inflammation and apoptosis in an in vitro osteoarthritis model

Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-3 (IRAK3) has a distinctive role in regulating inflammation. However, the functional role of IRAK3 and regulatory mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) remain unclear. Here, we first found that IRAK3 was upregulated, while miR-33b-3p was downregulated in the cartilage of OA patients and IL-1β-induced CHON-001 cells. IRAK3 was confirmed as the direct target of miR-33b-3p and negatively regulated by miR-33b-3p. There was an inverse correlation between IRAK3 mRNA expression and miR-33b-3p expression in OA cartilage tissues. The in vitro functional experiments showed that miR-33b-3p overexpression caused a remarkable increase in viability, a significant decrease in inflammatory mediators (IL-1β and TNF-α), and apoptosis in IL-1β-induced CHON-001 cells. Importantly, IRAK3 knockdown imitated, while overexpression reversed the effects of miR-33b-3p on IL-1β-induced inflammation and apoptosis in CHON-001 cells. Collectively, miR-33b-3p significantly alleviated IL-1β-induced inflammation and apoptosis by downregulating IRAK3, which may serve as a promising target for OA.

Early Identification of Patient Satisfaction Two Years After Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

There are numerous reports of poor satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), yet there is little known about when to use evidence-based models of care to improve patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to characterize longitudinal changes in patient-reported satisfaction after TKA and to identify factors for early identification of poor satisfaction.

METHODS

For a cohort of primary TKA surgeries (n = 86), patient-reported outcomes were captured one week before TKA and 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years after TKA. "Satisfied" versus "not fully satisfied" patients were defined using a binary response (≥90 vs <90) from a 100-point scale. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests identified changes in satisfaction between follow-up times, and longitudinal analyses examined demographic and questionnaire factors associated with satisfaction.

RESULTS

Improvements in satisfaction occurred within the first 6 months after TKA (P ≤ 0.01). Preoperative patient-reported outcome measures alone were not predictive of satisfaction. Key factors that improved longitudinal satisfaction included higher Oxford Knee Scores (odds ratio (OR) = 2.1, P < .001), general health (EQ-VAS, OR = 1.3, P = .03), and less visual analog scale pain (VAS; OR = 1.7, P < .001). Differences in these factors between satisfied and not fully satisfied patients were identified as early as 6 weeks after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Visibly different satisfaction profiles were captured among satisfied and not fully satisfied patient responses, with differences in patient-perceived joint function, general health, and pain severity occurring as early as 6 weeks after surgery. This study provides metrics to support early identification of patients at risk of poor TKA satisfaction, enabling clinicians to apply timely targeted treatment and support interventions, with the aim of improving patient outcomes.

Models of care for patients with knee osteoarthritis in primary healthcare: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition with associated high disability and healthcare costs. Evidence of major gaps in the implementation of evidence-based interventions in people with knee OA led several healthcare systems to implement models of care (MoCs) in order to improve knowledge translation and guaranty their economic sustainability. Nevertheless, there are few studies that analyse the existing body of evidence of MoCs for patients with knee OA in primary healthcare settings. Therefore, we aim to identify MoCs developed for patients with knee OA implemented in primary healthcare and, analyse their core components and outcomes. This scoping review will create knowledge about the components and outcomes of these MoCs which, in the future, will facilitate their transferability to practice.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will include studies that developed and implemented an MoC for people with knee OA in primary healthcare. We will use the PCC mnemonic, being 'Population'-people with Knee OA, 'Concept'-the MoCs and 'Context'-the primary healthcare setting. We will conduct the search on PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, as well as grey literature databases and relevant institutions and organisations websites, for articles published after 2000. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts followed by a full-text review to assess papers regarding their eligibility. We will evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies with the Mixed Methods Appraisal tool and apply a data abstraction form to describe and interpret the evidence.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

As a secondary analysis, this scoping review does not require ethical approval. Findings will be published in peer-review journal, presented in scientific conferences and as a summary through primary healthcare units.

LncRNA CASC19 accelerates chondrocytes apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokine production to exacerbate osteoarthritis development through regulating the miR-152-3p/DDX6 axis

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one kind of degenerative joint disease that happens in articular cartilage and other joint tissues. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to serve as pivotal regulators in many diseases, including OA. However, the role and relevant regulatory mechanisms of CASC19 in OA remain unknown.

Methods

The expression levels of CASC19, miR-152-3p, and DDX6 were identified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The relationship between miR-152-3p and CASC19 or DDX6 was predicted by bioinformatics tools and verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

CASC19 was verified to exhibit higher expression in OA tissues and cells. Moreover, inhibition of CASC19 weakened proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) production and cell apoptosis but facilitated cell viability. Experiments of the ceRNA mechanism elucidated that miR-152-3p was a sponge for CASC19, and miR-152-3p targeted DDX6, suggesting that CASC19 sponged miR-152-3p to release DDX6. Finally, results from rescue assays proved that the impacts of CASC19 silencing on chondrocytes apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokine production could be reversed by DDX6 overexpression.

Conclusions

It was concluded that lncRNA CASC19 accelerated chondrocytes apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokine production to exacerbate osteoarthritis development through regulating the miR-152-3p/DDX6 axis. These findings may offer an effective biological target for OA treatment.

Osteoarthritis care and risk of total knee arthroplasty among medicare beneficiaries

OBJECTIVE

To examine health care utilization among patients with knee osteoarthritis and test if utilization differed among residents of regions with high and low rates of total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of U.S. Medicare beneficiaries in 2005 - 2010 with knee osteoarthritis. Health care utilization for knee complaints, including rates of physician visits, physical therapy, knee injections and arthroscopy were abstracted from claims files until TKA or the end of study in 2015. Utilization was compared among beneficiaries who lived in regions with high or low rates of TKA.

RESULTS

Among 988,570 beneficiaries with knee osteoarthritis, 327,499 beneficiaries (33.1%) had TKA during follow-up (median 5.6 years). Higher rates of visits for knee complaints were associated with increased risks of arthroplasty, while use of physical therapy, specialist care, and intra-articular treatments were associated with lower risks. Frequency of TKA varied from 26.4% in the lowest quintile region to 42.1% in the highest quintile. Rates of physician visits, physical therapy, specialist care, and use of intra-articular injections varied inversely with arthroplasty quintile. For example, physical therapy was used by 32.5% of beneficiaries in the lowest quintile region and 23.6% in the highest quintile region. Physical therapy was associated with lower TKA rates across all quintiles.

CONCLUSIONS

Dedicated non-surgical osteoarthritis care was infrequently used by elderly Americans with knee osteoarthritis. Non-surgical care was more common in regions with low rates of TKA, suggesting reciprocal emphasis on medical versus surgical treatment across regions.

Effectiveness of Stepped-Care Intervention in Overweight and Obese Patients With Medial Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To test the effectiveness of a 32-week, stepped-care intervention on disease remission rates in overweight and obese patients with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (OA) compared to controls.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, eligible participants were ≥50 years of age with a body mass index of ≥28 kg/m² and radiographic evidence of medial tibiofemoral OA. Participants were randomized to stepped-care (n = 87) or control group (n = 84). The stepped-care group received a 2-step intervention. The first step consisted of an 18-week diet and exercise program. The second step consisted of 4 treatment subgroups: 1) diet and exercise maintenance; 2) cognitive-behavioral therapy; 3) unloader knee brace; and 4) muscle strengthening exercises. Allocation into subgroups was based on disease remission state and clinical characteristics. The primary end point was the disease remission rate (yes/no) at 32 weeks, which was reached when participants achieved the Patient Acceptable Symptom State cutoff value for pain and for the patient global assessment of disease activity and/or functional impairment.

RESULTS

Disease remission at 32 weeks was achieved by 18 of 68 (26%) in the control group and 32 of 82 (39%) in the stepped-care group (difference 12.6% [95% confidence interval -2.3, 27.4], P = 0.10). The stepped-care group showed an improvement in pain and function between baseline and 20 weeks. While functional improvement was maintained at 32 weeks, pain levels tended to get worse between weeks 20 and 32.

CONCLUSION

The proposed intervention did not promote a significant difference in the rate of disease remission in comparison to the control group for overweight or obese patients with medial tibiofemoral OA.

Immediate outcomes following the GLA:D® program in Denmark, Canada and Australia. A longitudinal analysis including 28,370 patients with symptomatic knee or hip osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To report outcomes across three countries for patients with symptomatic knee or hip OA attending the evidence-based education and exercise therapy program Good Life with osteoArthritis from Denmark (GLA:D®).

DESIGN

GLA:D® is a structured treatment program including 2-3 patient education sessions and 12 supervised exercise sessions delivered over 8 weeks by certified health care practitioners. The program was introduced in Denmark in 2013, in Canada 2015 and in Australia 2016. Absolute mean change in pain intensity, number of chair stands in 30 s, 40 m walk test time and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)/Hip dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) QOL subscale scores from baseline to immediately after treatment were reported as means and 95 % CIs and proportion of responders for each country.

RESULTS

Patients from the three countries improved 26-33% in mean pain intensity, 8-12% in walking speed, 18-30% in chair stand ability and 12-26% in joint-related quality of life from baseline to immediately after treatment, with no clinically relevant differences between patients with hip and knee OA. These improvements correspond with moderate to large within-group effect sizes and 43-47 % of the patients experienced clinically relevant pain reductions.

CONCLUSION

About half or more of patients across the three countries were categorized as responders for pain and objective function following the implementation of GLA:D®. These findings indicate positive patient outcomes associated with GLA:D® participation across varying health care systems from implementation of guideline-based patient education and exercise therapy for knee and hip OA.

Analysis of long-term results of pathogenetic treatment of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastroduodenopathies induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with osteoarthritis

The study of the pathogenetic treatment and prevention of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated gastroduodenopathies (GDP) induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most serious problems in modern clinical medicine. Sixty patients with OA and concomitant Hp-associated GDP induced by NSAIDs were examined. The levels of epidermal growth factor (EDF), sAPO-1/Fas and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined. Group I included 30 patients who received triple anti-Helicobacter (AHT) therapy, and group II included 30 patients who received rebamipide. Long-term effects were assessed 6 months and 1 year after treatment. All subjects showed a significant increase in TNF-α (4.7 times), EDF (2.2 times) and a decrease in sAPO-1/Fas (3.6 times) levels compared to healthy individuals. After 1 month of treatment, a significantly more significant decrease in TNF-α and an increase in sAPO-1/Fas and EDF was found in group II. In the long-term treatment, a further decrease in TNF-α and an increase in the content of sAPO-1/Fas levels were observed in all groups. However, these changes were significantly more significant in group I compared to group I. The long-term follow-up showed a declining trend of EDF in all groups. The data obtained indicate the effectiveness of rebamipide in the complex pathogenetic treatment and prevention of Hp-associated GDP induced by NSAIDs in patients with OA.

I exercise to postpone death - Interviews with persons with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis who are attending an osteoarthritis school

Background: Physical activity (PA) and exercise constitute the first line of treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and/or knee. Even though the symptoms may vary, OA should be considered a chronic disease and therefore PA and exercise should be performed lifelong. That needs knowledge and motivation.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and create a deeper understanding of the motivational processes for PA and exercise for persons with hip and/or knee OA who have participated in a self-management program OA school that included long-term exercise supervised by physical therapists.Methods: Twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 participants recruited from the OA school at a Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Clinic in Sweden. The interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis.Results: The analysis resulted in one main theme, Developing health literacy to encourage motivational processes for PA and exercise in OA and four themes: 1) meeting an established self-management program; 2) carrying my life history; 3) understanding the intelligence of the body; and 4) growing in existential motivationConclusion: Motivation for being physically active and to exercise, the life history in relation to PA and what creates existential motivation are important areas to ask questions about when people come to OA schools. Knowledge about the signals of the body connected to OA should be implemented in OA schools in order to motivate people to live an active life despite OA. Health literacy and the awareness of how PA can postpone death are likely to be important for existential motivation.

Neuromuscular Function of the Knee Joint Following Knee Injuries: Does It Ever Get Back to Normal? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses

BACKGROUND

Neuromuscular deficits are common following knee injuries and may contribute to early-onset post-traumatic osteoarthritis, likely mediated through quadriceps dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE

To identify how peri-articular neuromuscular function changes over time after knee injury and surgery.

DESIGN

Systematic review with meta-analyses.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, CENTRAL (Trials).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Moderate and high-quality studies comparing neuromuscular function of muscles crossing the knee joint between a knee-injured population (ligamentous, meniscal, osteochondral lesions) and healthy controls. Outcomes included normalized isokinetic strength, muscle size, voluntary activation, cortical and spinal-reflex excitability, and other torque related outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 46 studies of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and five of meniscal injury were included. For ACL injury, strength and voluntary activation deficits were evident (moderate to strong evidence). Cortical excitability was not affected at < 6 months (moderate evidence) but decreased at 24+ months (moderate evidence). Spinal-reflex excitability did not change at < 6 months (moderate evidence) but increased at 24+ months (strong evidence). We also found deficits in torque variability, rate of torque development, and electromechanical delay (very limited to moderate evidence). For meniscus injury, strength deficits were evident only in the short-term. No studies reported gastrocnemius, soleus or popliteus muscle outcomes for either injury. No studies were found for other ligamentous or chondral injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuromuscular deficits persist for years post-injury/surgery, though the majority of evidence is from ACL injured populations. Muscle strength deficits are accompanied by neural alterations and changes in control and timing of muscle force, but more studies are needed to fill the evidence gaps we have identified. Better characterisation and therapeutic strategies addressing these deficits could improve rehabilitation outcomes, and potentially prevent PTOA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42019141850.

Approaches to osteoarthritis - A qualitative study among patients in a rural setting in Central Western India

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a major cause of disability in India. For implementation of best practice management, it is important to consider the views of people in India since they might deviate from those expressed in previous studies by people with OA in the Western world.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe approaches toward OA and its management among patients in a rural setting in Central Western India.

DESIGN AND METHOD

Conventional content analysis was used to analyze semi-structured interviews with 24 patients diagnosed with OA from the target area of Pravara University Hospital and ten adjacent primary health care centers in Maharashtra, India.

RESULTS

Four categories; lack of power, active ambivalence, taking control and a constant struggle were identified as patients' approaches to OA. The categories were further elaborated on in seven subcategories.

CONCLUSION

Daily challenges and efforts, of which some may be unique to patients in a rural setting in India, underlie passive and active approaches to OA and its management. Understanding these may enhance Indian physiotherapists' implementation of evidence-based self-management programs adapted to Indian conditions and reduce the distress of their patients.