Effect of Comorbid Chronic Low Back Pain on Patient-Reported Outcome and Gait Parameters in Patients With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

Patient enablement and health-related quality of life for patients with chronic back and knee pain: a cross-sectional study in primary care

BACKGROUND

Chronic back and knee pain impairs health- related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient enablement can improve HRQoL.

AIM

To determine whether enablement was a moderator of the effect of chronic back and knee pain on HRQoL.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A cross-sectional study of Chinese patients with chronic back and knee problems in public primary care clinics in Hong Kong.

METHOD

Each participant completed the Chinese Patient Enablement Instrument-2 (PEI-2), the Chinese Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Pain Rating Scale (PRS). Multivariable regression examined the effects of PRS score and PEI-2 score on WOMAC total score. A moderation regression model and simple slope analysis were used to evaluate whether the interaction between enablement (PEI-2) and pain (PRS) had a significant effect on HRQoL (WOMAC).

RESULTS

Valid patient-reported outcome data from 1306 participants were analysed. PRS score was associated with WOMAC total score (β = 0.326, P<0.001), whereas PEI-2 score was associated inversely with WOMAC total score (β = -0.260, P<0.001) and PRS score. The effect of the interaction between PRS and PEI-2 (PRS × PEI-2) scores on WOMAC total score was significant (β = -0.191, P<0.001) suggesting PEI-2 was a moderator. Simple slope analyses showed that the relationship between PRS and WOMAC was stronger for participants with a low level of PEI-2 (gradient 3.056) than for those with a high level of PEI-2 (gradient 1.746).

CONCLUSION

Patient enablement moderated the impact of pain on HRQoL. A higher level of enablement can lessen impairment in HRQoL associated with chronic back and knee pain.

The Relationship Between Knee Osteoarthritis-Related Pain Severity and Daily Activities Involving the Upper and Lower Limbs in Saudi Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Earlier research has shown an association between pain intensity and everyday activities in adults. However, it is vital to examine the relationship within the context of Saudi people who have knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the connection between pain intensity and daily activities involving the lower and upper limbs among patients with knee osteoarthritis in Saudi Arabia. Methods This study enrolled 209 individuals aged 55 years and above who were diagnosed with radiographic knee osteoarthritis by physicians from five hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between March 2016 and March 2017. Participants were divided into two groups based on their pain intensity, measured using the visual analog scale. The first group included 141 individuals with mild or moderate pain, while the second group comprised 68 individuals with severe pain. The study assessed the physical functioning of these individuals by evaluating their ability to perform daily activities involving the lower and upper limbs, using the Physical Functioning Subscale of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, which includes 10 items. Results Adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals experiencing severe pain related to knee osteoarthritis were more likely to encounter difficulties in climbing several flights of stairs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.29), and one flight of stairs (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06-1.34), with challenges in bending, kneeling, or stooping (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.05-1.23), walking more than one mile (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06-1.25), walking several blocks (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.08-1.27), and walking one block (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06-1.34) than those with mild or moderate pain. Conclusion Our study results highlight the significant impact of severe pain on activities like climbing stairs, bending, kneeling, stooping, and walking longer distances among people with knee osteoarthritis in Saudi Arabia.

Development of a nomogram prediction model for gait speed trajectories in persons with knee osteoarthritis

To examine heterogeneous trajectories of 8-year gait speed among patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to develop a nomogram prediction model. We analyzed data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) assessed at baseline and follow-up over 8 years (n = 1289). Gait speed was measured by the 20-m walk test. The gait speed trajectories among patients with KOA were explored by latent class growth analysis. A nomogram prediction model was created based on multivariable logistic regression. Three gait speed trajectories were identified: the fast gait speed group (30.4%), moderate gait speed group (50.5%) and slow gait speed group (19.1%). Age ≥ 60 years, female, non-white, nonmarried, annual income < $50,000, obesity, depressive symptoms, comorbidity and WOMAC pain score ≥ 5 were risk factors for the slow gait trajectory. The area under the ROC curve of the prediction model was 0.775 (95% CI 0.742-0.808). In the external validation cohort, the AUC was 0.773 (95% CI 0.697-0.848). Heterogeneous trajectories existed in the gait speed of patients with KOA and could be predicted by multiple factors. Risk factors should be earlier identified, and targeted intervention should be carried out to improve physical function of KOA patients.

Prevalence of low back pain and related disability in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) has been associated with worse hip function for persons with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Reports are limited to surgical populations and based on the presence or absence of LBP, regardless of pain severity.

OBJECTIVES

To report the prevalence of clinically significant LBP for persons with FAIS; compare demographics, pain, and function between those with and without clinically significant LBP; and evaluate relationships between hip function and both LBP-related disability and LBP severity. We hypothesized that participants with LBP would be older, have higher body mass index (BMI), and report worse groin pain, longer symptom duration, and worse hip function. We hypothesized that worse LBP-related disability and LBP severity would be related to worse hip function.

DESIGN

Observational cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Hip preservation clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

158 persons with FAIS.

INTERVENTIONS

n/a MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Visual analog pain scales (VAS 0-100) were used to categorize participants with (≥30) and without (<30) clinically significant LBP. Age, sex, BMI, pain severity and duration, and hip function (33-item Hip Outcome Tool [iHOT33]) were compared between those with and without clinically significant LBP. Correlations were evaluated between the modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and iHOT33, ODI and groin pain severity, LBP severity and iHOT33, and LBP and groin pain severity.

RESULTS

Sixty percent of participants reported clinically significant LBP (n = 95). These participants reported worse iHOT33 scores (mean difference: 10.1 points) than those without clinically significant LBP (p = .001). Worse ODI scores were associated with worse iHOT33 scores (P < .001; ρ = -0.74). Significant relationships were also observed between (1) ODI and groin pain, (2) LBP and iHOT33, and (3) LBP and groin pain, but the magnitudes of these correlations were weak (ρ ≤ 0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically significant LBP is highly prevalent in persons with FAIS and is associated with worse hip function. Worse LBP-related disability, but not LBP severity, was strongly associated with worse hip function.