Objective: To study the impact of osteoarthritis (OA) on all areas of a patient's health-related quality of life.
Methods: The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) was administered to a group of patients with OA selected from a family medicine setting. The results were compared to a reference population, stratified by age, and adjusted for sex.
Results: OA was associated with significant impairment, and had an important impact on, health-related quality of life in the areas of ambulation, body care and movement, emotional behavior, sleep and rest, home management, and work, especially in patients ages 41-60. The older patients differed less from the controls than did the younger ones. Items that contributed to the differences between OA patients and controls were mainly related to physical limitations.
Conclusion: Most dysfunctions related to OA are physical.