Comorbidities in patients with osteoarthritis: frequency and impact on pain and physical function.

INTRODUCTION: As the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) increases with age, the coexistence of other chronic diseases is common. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of comorbidities in OA patients and to measure their impact on pain and physical function of those patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in OA patients of a public rheumatology clinic. Pain was measured by use of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and physical function by use of the Lequesne's and SACRAH indices. A screening for depression was performed, as were the following measurements: anthropometric data; blood pressure; fasting glycemia; and lipid profile. RESULTS: The study assessed 91 patients (mean age 59.3 years; 91.4% female). The metabolic syndrome frequency was 54.9%. Hypertension occurred in 75.8% of the patients, dyslipidemia in 52.6%, and obesity in 57.1%. The screening for depression was positive in 61.3% of patients. When comparing the metabolic syndrome components individually, patients with hypertension had higher SACRAH scores, with statistically significant differences (P = 0.035). For the other variables, no differences among the Lequesne's, SACRAH and VAS scores were observed. CONCLUSION: This group of OA patients showed a high frequency of depression, metabolic syndrome and its components in isolation, which can impact the pain and physical function of those patients. Such results showed the need for investigating and treating those comorbidities in OA patients.

Comorbidades em pacientes com osteoartrite: frequência e impacto na dor e na função física / Comorbidities in patients with osteoarthritis: frequency and impact on pain and physical function

INTRODUÇÃO: Uma vez que a prevalência da osteoartrite (OA) aumenta com o envelhecimento, é comum a coexistência de outras doenças crônicas. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a frequência de comorbidades em pacientes com OA e mensurar o impacto destas na dor e a função física nesses pacientes. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal em pacientes portadores de OA do ambulatório de reumatologia do IMIP. A dor foi mensurada pela Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) e a função física pelos índices de Lequesne e SACRAH. Foi realizado um screening para depressão, além de aferição de medidas antropométricas, pressão arterial, dosagem da glicemia de jejum e perfil lipídico. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 91 pacientes, com média de idade de 59,3 anos, sendo 91,4 por cento do sexo feminino. A frequência de síndrome metabólica foi de 54,9 por cento. Hipertensão arterial sistêmica ocorreu em 75,8 por cento dos casos, dislipidemia em 52,6 por cento e obesidade em 57,1 por cento. O screening para depressão foi positivo em 61,3 por cento dos pacientes. Quando comparamos individualmente os componentes da síndrome metabólica, observamos que pacientes com hipertensão apresentavam maiores escores no SACRAH com diferença estatisticamente significante (P = 0,035). Para as outras variáveis, não foram demonstradas diferenças entre os escores Lequesne, SACRAH e EVA. CONCLUSÃO: Foi observada uma alta frequência de depressão, síndrome metabólica e de seus componentes isoladamente nesse grupo de pacientes com OA, podendo haver impacto da presença destes na dor e na função física desses pacientes. Tais resultados demonstraram a necessidade de investigação e tratamento dessas comorbidades em pacientes com OA.

INTRODUCTION: As the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) increases with age, the coexistence of other chronic diseases is common. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of comorbidities in OA patients and to measure their impact on pain and physical function of those patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in OA patients of a public rheumatology clinic. Pain was measured by use of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and physical function by use of the Lequesne's and SACRAH indices. A screening for depression was performed, as were the following measurements: anthropometric data; blood pressure; fasting glycemia; and lipid profile. RESULTS: The study assessed 91 patients (mean age 59.3 years; 91.4 percent female). The metabolic syndrome frequency was 54.9 percent. Hypertension occurred in 75.8 percent of the patients, dyslipidemia in 52.6 percent, and obesity in 57.1 percent. The screening for depression was positive in 61.3 percent of patients. When comparing the metabolic syndrome components individually, patients with hypertension had higher SACRAH scores, with statistically significant differences (P = 0.035). For the other variables, no differences among the Lequesne's, SACRAH and VAS scores were observed. CONCLUSION: This group of OA patients showed a high frequency of depression, metabolic syndrome and its components in isolation, which can impact the pain and physical function of those patients. Such results showed the need for investigating and treating those comorbidities in OA patients.