The relationship between functional disability and health-related quality of life in patients with a rotator cuff tear

Abstract

Purpose:To determine the relationship between functional disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in rotator cuff tear (RCT) patients. Method:In 67 RCT patients (mean age, 54 years; 57% males), functional disability was self-reported with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), HRQoL with the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and pain by visual analogue scale. ASES results were divided into tertiles (12–38, 39–51, and 52–82). Results:Mean ASES score was 48 (range, 12–82). Patients with the highest functional disability and highest pain level had the lowest HRQoL. For the highest, middle, and lowest ASES categories, respectively, mean SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores were 35 SD 5, 36 SD 8, and 41 SD 6 (p< 0.001) (r = 0.47 for ASES vs. PCS; p< 0.001), and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were 50 SD 13, 56 SD 10, and 58 SD 8 (p = 0.011) (r = 0.37 for ASES vs. MCS; p= 0.003). Conclusions: Patients with higher functional disability had lower HRQoL. RCT extensively affects patients’ lives; therefore, capturing both generic and shoulder-specific measures of RCT problems is recommended.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) result from injury or degeneration, and tear prevalence increases with age.

• RCT causes disabling pain, decline in muscle strength and shoulder mobility.

• RCT patients with decreased functioning have impaired quality of life.

Keywords::

• Shoulder pain
• rotator cuff tear
• functional disability
• health-related quality of life

Declaration of Interest: This study was supported with a grant from the Medical Research Foundation of Central Finland Central Hospital. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.