Work Disability and Quality of Life among Working Patients with Primary knee and Hip Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Degenerative joint disorder osteoarthritis (OA) affects more adults than any other type of arthritis and can cause a variety of disabilities, such as limitations in daily activities and capacity to work. This work aimed for assessment of work disability, and quality of life (QOL) among working patients who had knee and hip OA.Methods: current research was cross-sectional study that was carried out upon 150 working patients with OA diagnosed based on American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria of knee and hip OA. Assessment of work disability was done via Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAl) questionnaire. QoL of the OA cases was evaluated by the Osteoarthritis Quality of Life Lower Limbs Questionnaire (MiniOAKHQOL).Results: There was a negative significant correlation between WPAI with mini-HKOAQoL score and WOMAC score (p=0.013, 0.022 respectively). Significant positive correlations were found between Mini-HKOAQoL score with BMI, WOMAC score, VAS, and K-L grades (p=0.0159, <0.001, <0.001, 0.031 respectively). Significant associations were found regarding Mini-HKOAQoL score and DM, Socioeconomic, education, and work stress (p=0.043, 0.006, 0.001, and 0.009 respectively). Conclusion: While OA pain is more commonly associated with elderly, it affects underrecognized proportion of working population. Presence of OA pain could have a great impact on quality of life of working patients and their work productivity. There is association between grades of OA and quality of life of working personnel. OA workers with pain reported significantly reduced quality of life across both physical activities and mental health, so it affects their work and daily activities.