Quality of Life and Associated Factors in Latin American Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to determine whether individuals with hip osteoarthritis who undergo THA have higher HRQOL scores than those awaiting the procedure; An additional aim was to investigate associated factors exerting an impact on HRQOL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants were divided into two groups: pre-THA and post-THA. Functional capacity was assessed using the Harris Hip Score, and HRQOL was measured using a validated and adapted version of the WOMAC questionnaire. A multivariate analysis of the WOMAC results was used to identify the main variables associated with HRQOL in both groups.

RESULTS

The post-THA group had higher HRQOL scores (100.4 ± 88.5) than the pre-THA group (197.8 ± 54.1). The domains Pain (68.0 ± 19.0 versus 34.7 ± 30.8), Stiffness (61.2 ± 28.9 versus 29.9 ± 33.1), and Phy-sical Act--vity (68.6 ± 16.1 versus 36.6 ± 30.2) also had higher scores in the post-THA group. Pain was the variable most frequently associated with the increase in post-THA HRQOL scores. Other variables such as occupation, time of diagnosis, joint function, and body weight also had an impact on the HRQOL of both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Individuals who had undergone THA showed higher HRQOL scores in all domains when compared to those still awaiting the procedure, and pain reduction was the variable most strongly associated with the improvement in quality of life of those patients. 2. Occupation and mobility were associated with the Stiffness domain of QOL; Occupation also had a bearing on health-related quality of life as a whole. 3. Physical Activity of the WOMAC instrument was associated with time of diagnosis, patient's body weight, and function as assessed by the HHS.