Pain and Quality of Life among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis at Tertiary Level Hospital

Abstract

Background and objectives: Osteoarthritis is an age-related disease characterized clinically by pain, functional impairment, disability that may affect quality of life. This study was conducted to evaluate pain and quality of life among patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 162 patients attending Orthopedic Out Patient department of Kathmandu Medical College by convenience sampling method. Numerical Pain Rating Scale was used to assess pain and SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess quality of life through face-to-face interview method. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 20. Descriptive and inferential statistics including non-parametric tests like Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test were applied. Spearman’s Correlation test was used to find out correlation between pain and quality of life, p significant at <0.05 with 95% confidence interval.

Results: In Numerical Pain Rating Scale index, 55.6% had severe pain. The physical component summary score was 33.52±17.63 and mental component summary score was 48.28±21.64. There was significant difference of age and education level with physical component and mental component. The physical and mental component of quality of life was moderately negatively correlated with pain.

Conclusion: Patients with knee osteoarthritis experienced severe pain and reduced score in physical and mental component of quality of life. There was significant difference between socio-demographic variables with physical and mental component of quality of life. Pain and physical and mental component of quality of life both were negatively correlated.