Association of knee osteoarthritis with onset and resolution of pain and physical functional disability: The ROAD study

Abstract

Objectives. To examine the onset and resolution of pain and physical functional disability using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and their association with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the longitudinal large-scale population of the nationwide cohort study, Research on Osteoarthritis/osteoporosis Against Disability (ROAD).

Methods. Subjects from the ROAD study who had been recruited during 2005–2007 were followed up 3 years later. A total of 1,578 subjects completed the WOMAC questionnaire at baseline and follow up, and the onset and resolution rate of pain and physical functional disability were examined. We also examined the association of onset of pain and physical functional disability and their resolution with severity of knee OA as well as age, body–mass index and grip strength.

Results. After a 3.3-year follow-up, the onset rate of pain was 35.0% and 35.3% in men and women, respectively, and the onset rate of physical functional disability was 38% and 40%, respectively. Resolution rate of pain was 20.3% and 26.2% in men and women, respectively, and resolution rate of physical functional disability was 16% and 14% in men and women, respectively. Knee OA was significantly associated with onset and resolution of pain and physical functional disability in women, but there was no significant association of knee OA with onset of pain and resolution of physical functional disability in men.

Conclusions. The present longitudinal study revealed the onset rate of pain and physical functional disability as well as their resolution, and their association with knee OA.

Keywords:

• Knee joint
• Osteoarthritis
• Epidemiology
• Longitudinal studies

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S19109007, B20390182, C20591737, C20591774), for Young Scientists (A18689031), and for Exploratory Research (19659305) from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, H17-Men-eki-009, H18- Choujyu-037, H20-Choujyu-009, H21-Chouju-Wakate-011 and H22-Chouju-Wakate-007 from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Research Aid from the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA-Subsidized Science Project Research 2006-1 & 2010-2), and Grant No.166 from the Japan Orthopaedics and Traumatology Foundation.

The authors thank Dr. Yamamoto, Dr. Ishibashi, Dr. Anamizu and members of Department of Orthopaedics, and Mr. Kutsuma and other members of Department of Radiology at Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Medical Center; Mrs. Tomoko Takijiri and other members of the Public Office in Hidakagawa Town; and Mrs. Tamako Tsutsumi, Mrs. Kanami Maeda and other members of the Public Office in Taiji Town, for their assistance in the location and scheduling of participants for examinations.

Conflict of interest

None.