EVALUATION OF SOME COMMON GERIATRIC SYNDROMES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG OLDER PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate some common geriatric syndromes and their associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study on 184 older patients with knee OA treated at National Geriatric Hospital from May to August 2022. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Geriatric syndromes were assessed. Results: Some common geriatric syndromes in elderly knee OA patients were sleep disorders (72.3%), polypharmacy (54.3%), depression (48.4%), high risk of falls (45.1%), malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition (45.1%), IADL impairment (35.9%), and ADL impairment (32.6%). Cognitive impairment accounted for the lowest proportion (20.7%). There are significant associations between HRQoL and geriatric syndromes (malnutrition, ADL and IADL impairment, high fall risk, cognitive impairment, depression, and sleep disturbance). Patients with the presence of these geriatric syndromes have a poorer quality of life (QoL), in most aspects of HRQoL such as mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of geriatric syndromes in older people with knee OA. Most of these geriatric syndromes were related to the aspects of the patients’ QoL.