Are Psychosocial Factors Determinant in the Pain and Social Participation of Patients with Early Knee Osteoarthritis? A Cross-Sectional Study

Ana Alabajos-Cea, Luz Herrero-Manley, Luis Suso-Martí, Juan Alonso-Pérez-Barquero and Enrique Viosca-Herrero
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Ana Alabajos-Cea: Servicio de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
Luz Herrero-Manley: Servicio de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
Luis Suso-Martí: Grupo de Investigación en Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IISLAFE), 46026 Valencia, Spain
Juan Alonso-Pérez-Barquero: Servicio de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
Enrique Viosca-Herrero: Servicio de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: The main objective of this research is to determine the psychosocial differences between patients with knee pain or early osteoarthritis (EOA) and healthy subjects at risk of developing osteoarthritis. The secondary objective is to determine how psychosocial factors might influence pain and social participation in patients with EOA. A cross-sectional study was performed. Participants were divided according to the presence of pain or EOA. Pain intensity both at rest and walking, psychological variables such as anxiety and depression, and social participation were evaluated. A total of 105 participants were included (64 with knee pain and 41 without pain), with a mean age of 51.42 ± 5.92 (35 men and 70 women). Patients with knee pain had higher levels of anxiety (MD = ?2.35; p < 0.01; d = 0.66) and depression (MD = ?2.45; p < 0.01; d = 0.87), regardless of the presence of EOA. In addition, patients with higher depression levels had lower levels of social participation. The results revealed a relationship between the psychological variables, anxiety and depression, with knee pain and the onset of symptomatic OA, as well as an influence of depression levels on social participation. Improving these psychological characteristics may be useful in delaying the onset of symptomatic OA and enhancing social participation.

Keywords: osteoarthritis; early osteoarthritis; psychological factors; anxiety; depression; social participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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