[Pain, quality of life and mental health in patients with gonalgia due to gonarthrosis: Cases and controls study]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate pain, quality of life and psychological state in patients with gonalgia due to gonarthrosis.

Material and methods: Epidemiological, multicenter, case-control study. 1.152 patients were included (576 with arthrosis and 576 without arthrosis) matched by age and sex, from 63 health centers in Spain. The Huskisson Pain Scale (VAS), the EuroQol and Goldberg questionnaires were administered. A descriptive and comparative analysis of the data was carried out in both groups. Factors influencing the quality of life and mental health of arthritic patientes were studied with logistic regression models.

Results: 576 case patients and 576 controls were included. 70.3% were women in both groups. The mean score in the VAS score of the arthritic patients was 65±4.9mm corresponding to a moderate intensity. The EQ-5D questionnaire indicated a worse state of health (P<.05) in patients with osteoarthritis in each of its dimensions. In the GHQ-12 questionnaire, the presence of psychopathology was detected in 36.5% (n=209) of patients with osteoarthritis compared to 14.0% (n=80) in controls (P<.001). Pain was the variable that affected quality of life in all dimensions (P<.001).

Conclusions: Patients with arthrosis manifest moderate pain due to this disease. They present a limitation of mobility, personal care and daily activities that negatively affects their quality of life and psychologically they are more affected. It is a priority to develop self-care and treatment strategies in this group of subjects to globally improve their quality of life.

Keywords: Artrosis; Calidad de vida; Dolor; Mental health; Osteoarthritis; Pain; Quality of life; Salud mental.