Effect of Age on the Relation Between Knee Pain and Function in Egyptian Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis is highly prevalent in general population and causes significant knee pain and malfunction. Effect of age on the relationship between knee pain also knee function had not been studied in Egypt and had not been found in the literature. This research aimed to explore the relation between knee pain also knee function in Egyptian population with knee osteoarthritis-related pain and to determine effect of age on this relation. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved seventy-eight patients having knee osteoarthritis-related pain aged from 40-80 years old. They were evaluated for their knee pain severity by visual analogue scale (VAS) also knee function by aggregate locomotor function scale (ALFS). Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated. Results: There was significant direct weak correlation between knee pain also knee malfunction (r=0.32, p=0.004) that was retained only in older Egyptian patients having knee osteoarthritis-related pain (r=0.38, p=0.015). Conclusion: In Egyptian patients having knee osteoarthritis-related pain who are younger than 60 years old, knee pain is not related to knee malfunction, i.e. they keep working in spite of pain. So, in this population, level of knee malfunction does not accurately reflect level of knee pain or disease severity. This to be considered during assessment of the impact of knee osteoarthritis and the outcome measures of the interventions.