Osteoarthritis: quality of life, comorbidities, medication and health service utilization assessed in a large sample of primary care patients
2007
Impact of Osteoarthritis on Quality of Life and Health Service Use
Sample size: 1021
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Rosemann Thomas, Laux Gunter, Szecsenyi Joachim
Primary Institution: University of Heidelberg
Hypothesis
Men and women differ regarding health status and health service utilization related to osteoarthritis.
Conclusion
Osteoarthritis impacts men and women differently in terms of quality of life and health service utilization.
Supporting Evidence
- Women reported significantly higher scores in quality of life dimensions related to osteoarthritis.
- Men and women had similar rates of depression despite differences in quality of life scores.
- Women visited their general practitioner more frequently than men.
Takeaway
Osteoarthritis affects men and women differently, especially in how they feel and how often they visit the doctor.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study with 1250 OA patients attending 75 primary care practices.
Limitations
No control group was available.
Participant Demographics
347 (34%) were male and 674 (66%) were female, with a mean age of 66.1 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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