An investigation of the relationship between the functional status of the individuals with knee osteoarthritis and their quality of life.

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis, a chronic and degenerative joint disease, is more common among the growing elderly population. With the increasing life expectancy and obesity, the significance of knee osteoarthritis for public health has become more evident. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the functional status of individuals with knee osteoarthritis and their quality of life. The population of the study consisted of individuals with 1-4 s level of knee osteoarthritis diagnosed over the age of 50 who attended the physical therapy and rehabilitation polyclinic at Atatürk University hospital. The study was carried out with 129 individuals with knee osteoarthritis without sample selection. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and analyzed with SPSS 22.00 statistical package program using frequency, percentage, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Dunnett T3 post hoc test. According to the results, the KOOS Function and Daily Life scores showing the functional status of the participants were 46.61 ± 16.17. The Function and Sports/Leisure Activities subscale scores were 29.49 ± 23.73, and the mean scores of the Quality of Life subscale were 34.15 ± 18.11. A positive significant relationship was determined between the functional status and the quality of life in the individuals. As the functional status of individuals improves, the quality of life increases too.