[Quality of life in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of life in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis through self-assessment and those made by the physician. MATERIALS AND METHODS An observational and cross-sectional multicenter study in which 628 traumatologists or rheumatologists evaluated 1,849 patients with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, aged ≥ 50 years old, and representative of 49 Spanish provinces. Each researcher evaluated three patients and also completed the SF-12v2 health questionnaire. The patients completed the WOMAC and SF-12v2 questionnaires. RESULTS The patients were 68.5 ± 9.5 years old, 61.5% had knee osteoarthritis, 19% had hip osteoarthritis, and 19.5% in both locations. Older patients and those who had both knee and hip osteoarthritis had a poorer quality of life, according to patients and researchers. Physical health perceived by the researchers was better than patients reported (36.74 ± 8.6 and 35.21 ± 8.53; respectively, p<0.001), and the mental health score was similar between physicians and patients. Kellgren/Lawrence scale and test Timed Up & Go predict better the quality of life, assessed by WOMAC and SF-12v2 questionnaires. DISCUSSION This is the Spanish study on quality of life in osteoarthritis of the knee and hip of larger amplitude and number of patients. CONCLUSION These results could be considered as reference values of Spanish population aged ≥ 50 years with knee or hip osteoarthritis.