Age, physical inactivity, obesity, health conditions, and health-related quality of life among patients receiving conservative management for musculoskeletal disorders

Figures & data

Table 1 Primary reasons for respondent referrals to the participating clinics (n=224)

Reasons	Age <40 years, n (%)	Age 40–60 years, n (%)	Age >60 years, n (%)
Back condition	15 (32.6)	42 (43.3)	28 (34.6)
Shoulder condition	13 (28.3)	14 (14.4)	12 (14.8)
Knee condition	3 (6.5)	10 (10.3)	6 (7.4)
Neck condition	0 (0.0)	12 (12.4)	6 (7.4)
Elbow, wrist, or hand condition	4 (8.7)	4 (4.1)	4 (4.9)
Ankle condition	2 (4.3)	5 (5.2)	4 (4.9)
Hip condition	3 (6.5)	2 (2.1)	3 (3.7)
Weight loss	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1 (1.2)
Other condition	6 (13.0)	8 (8.2)	17 (21.0)

Figure 1 Age distribution of patients accessing ambulatory hospital clinics for musculoskeletal disorders.

Table 2 Frequency (percentage) of comorbid health conditions self-reported by respondents in addition to their primary reason for clinic attendance

Conditions	Age <40 years (n=46), n (%)	Age 40–59 years (n=97), n (%)	Age >60 years (n=81), n (%)
Musculoskeletal disordersa
Neck condition	0 (0.0)	19 (19.6)	23 (28.4)
Osteoarthritis	1 (2.1)	16 (16.5)	21 (25.9)
Knee condition	1 (2.1)	14 (14.4)	22 (27.2)
Shoulder condition	0 (0.0)	15 (15.5)	19 (23.5)
Back condition	1 (2.1)	7 (7.2)	18 (22.2)
Hip condition	1 (2.1)	11 (11.3)	13 (16.0)
Elbow, wrist, or hand condition	3 (6.4)	6 (6.2)	9 (11.1)
Osteoporosis	1 (2.1)	4 (4.1)	13 (16.1)
Ankle condition	0 (0.0)	5 (5.2)	9 (11.1)
Other musculoskeletal condition	6 (12.8)	13 (13.4)	15 (18.5)
Depression	6 (12.8)	20 (20.6)	15 (18.5)
Hypertension	0 (0.0)	18 (18.6)	22 (27.2)
Diabetes	2 (4.3)	12 (12.4)	25 (30.9)
Heart condition	1 (2.1)	7 (7.2)	18 (22.2)
Eye problems	1 (2.1)	8 (8.2)	15 (18.5)
Asthma	3 (6.4)	7 (7.2)	13 (16.0)
Cancer	2 (4.3)	7 (7.2)	13 (16.0)
Obesity (self-reported)	3 (6.4)	7 (7.2)	11 (13.6)
Digestive problems	0 (0.0)	3 (3.1)	7 (8.6)
Kidney disease	0 (0.0)	5 (5.2)	4 (4.9)
Hay fever/allergies	1 (2.1)	3 (3.1)	4 (4.9)
Liver disease	0 (0.0)	2 (2.1)	2 (2.5)
Fibromyalgia	2 (4.3)	2 (2.1)	0 (0.0)
Epilepsy	1 (2.1)	2 (2.1)	1 (1.2)
Stroke	0 (0.0)	1 (1.0)	3 (3.7)
Stomach ulcers	0 (0.0)	1 (1.0)	2 (2.5)
Emphysema	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1 (1.2)

Note:

a Musculoskeletal disorder in addition to primary reason for attending clinic.

Figure 2 Number of comorbidities and percentage of respondents in each body mass index (BMI) category.

Notes: Number of comorbidities and BMI of patients aged <40 years (A and B), 40–60 years (C and D), and >60 years (E and F).

Figure 3 Physical activity among respondents.

Notes: Duration (in minutes) and type of physical activity reported in previous week by patients aged <40 years (A), 40–60 years (B), and >60 years (C).

Figure 4 Health-related quality of life of respondents.

Notes: Health-related quality of life across EQ-5D domains⁴⁶ for patients aged <40 years (A), 40–60 years (B), and >60 years (C).

Table 3 Summary of coefficients (and bootstrap-generated confidence intervals), z-scores, and P-values from the generalized linear model examining the association between multi-attribute utility and number of comorbidities, body mass index, physical activity time, and age

Dependent variable	Independent variables	Observed coefficient ×10^2	95% confidence intervals		z-score	P-value
			Lower	Upper
Multi-attribute utility	Comorbidities	−2.200	−3.812	−0.587	−2.67	<0.01
	Body mass index	−1.089	−4.400	2.222	−0.64	0.52
	Physical activity time	0.026	0.014	0.038	4.22	<0.001
	Patient age	0.320	0.059	0.576	2.41	0.02

RabinRde CharroFEQ-5D: a measure of health status from the EuroQol GroupAnn Med200133533734311491192

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