Self-Reported Comorbidity Affects Health-Related Quality of Life and Perception of Shoulder Function in Patients with Rotator Cuff Disease

Abstract

Background The present study aimed to describe the comorbidity burden of a rotator cuff disease cohort and to examine the effects of patient comorbidities on general health and shoulder-specific outcome measures. Methods A retrospective cohort of patients with rotator cuff disease was identified using the coding of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. Demographic variables and numbers of systemic and musculoskeletal comorbid conditions were collected. General health and shoulder-specific tools were used to assess disability. Analyses using regression, correlation and analysis of variance were performed to assess the impact of comorbidity upon outcome measures. Results Three hundred and seventy-three patients with rotator cuff disease were identified. Two-thirds of the group reported at least one systemic comorbidity. Non-shoulder musculoskeletal comorbidities were reported by 80% of the cohort. Women reported a significantly greater number of comorbid conditions than men ( p < 0.02). Baseline health-related quality of life and self-reported shoulder function were impacted significantly by comorbidity when controlling for patient demographic characteristics. Discussion Comorbidities are common in this population and significantly affect health-related quality of life and self-reported shoulder pain and disability in patients presenting with rotator cuff-related symptoms. Comorbidities should be considered when shoulder disability measures are utilized in clinical practice and when studying outcomes.