PHYSICAL FUNCTIONALITY AND SELF-RATED HEALTH STATUS OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PRESENTING IN A PRIMARY CARE CLINIC

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic medical condition of public health importance inNigeria which causes disability and impacts daily activities in the sufferers. This study aimed todescribe the physical functionality and self-rated health status of adult patients with clinical kneeosteoarthritis presenting at the Family Medicine Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan,Nigeria.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 400 respondents. Knee osteoarthritis was diagnosedclinically using the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Morbidities, self-rated healthstatus and physical functionality of the respondents were also assessed.RESULTS: Knee osteoarthritis was diagnosed in 46(11.5%) respondents. Respondents with kneeosteoarthritis significantly rated their health worse than those without knee osteoarthritis (p <0.0001).Experience of pain, stiffness and performance of daily activities were significantly worse amongrespondents with knee osteoarthritis. Those who had knee osteoarthritis had significantly higher waist(p <0.0001), hip (p <0.0001) and knee circumferences (p <0.0001) respectively. Logistic regressionanalysis showed increasing age (OR=1.103; 95% CI=1.022 – 1.191), self-rated health worse than sixmonths ago (OR=12.562; 95% CI=1.178–125.243), experience of stiffness after waking up in themorning (OR=12.758; 95% CI=3.572–45.569), stiffness after sitting/lying down/resting (OR=21.517;95% CI=2.213–209.220) and waist circumference (OR=1.225;95% CI=1.017–1.477) to be the mostsignificantly associated with knee osteoarthritis.CONCLUSION: Knee osteoarthritis significantly impairs the health and daily activities of adultpatients in Ibadan, Nigeria. Healthcare workers need to screen adult patients routinely at first-contactto detect knee osteoarthritis clinically early and manage appropriately.