Relationships Between Preoperative Mental Health and Improvements in Patient-Reported Outcomes After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Effects of total knee arthroplasty on symptoms, function and activity over 5 years in knee osteoarthritis: A propensity-score matched study

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on symptoms, function and activity over 5 years in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.

Methods

Data were from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). Participants who conducted the first TKA from (not before) enrolment to 48 months were propensity score matching (PSM) on their characteristics at the visit before surgery (treated as baseline) to those who did not conduct a TKA at 48 months (treated as baseline). Changes in knee pain and functional disability were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and function subscales. Changes in physical activity, physical function and overall physical health and mental health were assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, the 20-m walk speed and the five times chair-to-stand tests and the 12-Item Short Form Survey, respectively.

Results

Eighty-two pairs of participants in the TKA (56% women, mean 64.8 ± 8.4 years) and non-TKA groups were matched. Knee symptoms were significantly improved in the TKA group and flatted from 24 months (Pain: β = -3.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [-4.59 to -1.99], p < 0.001; Function: β = -10.12, 95% CI = [-14.21 to -6.03], p < 0.001). Physical function and overall physical health but not physical activity or mental health (PASE: β = 5.72, 95% CI = [-15.46 to 26.90], p = 0.597; Mental: β = 0.04, 95% CI = [-2.47 to 2.54], p = 0.976) was improved in the TKA group over 24 months.

Conclusions

TKA substantially improved knee symptoms and physical function over 60 months and physical health over 48 months, compared to those who had a similar severity of KOA but did not have a TKA, but this did not translate into increased physical activity or mental health.

Level of Evidence

Level III.

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty improves mental health in patients with single compartment knee osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine if preoperative mental health status improves following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in patients with single compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

A total of 163 patients underwent UKA [115 (71%) medial, 48 (29%) lateral] (mean age = 65 ± 11) completed preoperative and minimum 2-year postoperative veterans RAND 12 item health survey (VR-12) mental component score (MCS). VR-12 MCS was the primary outcome measure. Secondary measures included VR-12 physical component summary score (PCS), knee osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) and KOOS patient acceptable symptom state at the final follow-up.

RESULTS

The median VR-12 MCS improved from 50.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 43.7-56.8] to 55.0 [IQR: 52.3-57.0] (p < 0.001) at a mean follow-up of 9.5 ± 4 years (range 2-19 years) following UKA. Preoperative VR-12 MCS was significantly correlated with patients postoperative VR-12 PCS (ρ = 0.294, p < 0.01), KOOS pain (ρ = 0.201, p = 0.012), KOOS ADL (ρ = 0.243, p = 0.002) and KOOS quality of life (ρ = 0.233, p < 0.01). Sixty-three (39%) patients improved from low VR-12 MCS (<50) to normal VR-12 MCS (≥50). One hundred forty-two (87%) achieved a normal VR-12 MCS score (≥50) postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

At a mean of 10-year follow-up, patients who underwent UKA for single compartment osteoarthritic knee pain demonstrated significant improvement in mental health scores. UKA resulted in normal mental health in a majority of patients (87%). The resultant improved mental health scores were associated with improved patient pain and activities of daily living.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III retrospective cohort study.

Influence of health literacy on health-related quality of life after total hip arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

Personal knowledge about the own disease, a key component of health literacy (HL), may have a considerable impact on treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the patients' knowledge about the surgical procedure, risks, and aftercare, as well as the satisfaction with the preoperative level of information, has an influence on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 176 patients (68.3 ± 10.3 years, 60.8% female) were evaluated. HRQoL was assessed prior to surgery as well as one and twelve months after THA using the 12-item Short Form Questionnaire. Following standardized surgical informed consent, HL was assessed preoperatively using a self-constructed quiz score, while information satisfaction was measured with a single-item rating scale. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including pain (VAS), functionality (WOMAC), and psychological distress (PHQ-4), were also assessed at baseline. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine whether HL, satisfaction with information, age, social class, WOMAC, VAS, and PHQ-4 predict HRQoL at one and twelve months post-surgery.

RESULTS

The average HL quiz score was 23 ± 5.1 out of a possible 33 points. Social class index significantly influenced HL (p < 0.001). A weak correlation between HL and age (r = 0.23, p = 0.01) and no correlation between HL and psychological distress (p = 0.868) were observed. One month after THA, physical HRQoL was significantly predicted by the WOMAC index (p = 0.031) and subjective satisfaction with information (p = 0.022), but not by HL. After twelve months, only the WOMAC was a significant predictor (p < 0.001) of physical HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Although subjective satisfaction with the patient's preoperative level of information had a significant effect on the physical HRQoL at one month after THA, the influence of osteoarthritis severity outweighed this effect after twelve months. HL had no direct influence on HRQoL. These results suggest that patient satisfaction, rather than knowledge, predicts HRQoL.