Factors associated with treatment of osteoarthritis: Analysis of a COPCORD study in Nuevo León, México

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent rheumatic disease in Mexico. Treatment involves pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies.

Objective: To describe the factors associated with treatment of osteoarthritis in the urban and rural population of Nuevo León.

Methods: Analysis of a cross-sectional study of patients with OA from a COPCORD study database. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the variables associated with treatment of OA.

Results: We included 696 patients with OA with an average age of 58 years (SD 14.1), 484 (69.5%) women. Pain with a visual analog scale (VAS) ≥4 was present in 507 (72.8%) patients. Functional disability was present in 133 (19%) patients and a mean HAQ of 0.37 (IQR 0.75) was found. The most frequent place of OA was knee in 356 (51.1%) patients; 259 (37%) patients already knew their diagnosis. The most employed treatments were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (289 patients, 58.5%). The variables associated with treatment were age >58 years (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.5), female gender (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.0-1.3), VAS pain ≥4 (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.4), functional disability (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6-4.1), HAQ >0.375 (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-2.4), and past diagnosis of OA (OR 5.1, 95% CI 3.3-8.0). In the multivariate analysis, VAS pain ≥4 (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.8), kneeling disability (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.3-7.4) and previous diagnosis of OA (OR 7.6, 95% CI 4.5-12.9) had statistical significance.

Conclusion: factors associated with treatment of OA are VAS pain ≥4, kneeling disability and previous diagnosis of OA.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Musculoskeletal diseases; Osteoarthritis; Risk factors; Therapeutics.