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The Management of Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Hip Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline is based on a systematic review of published studies examining the treatment of OA of the hip in adults (aged 18 years and older). Based on the best current available evidence, this guideline contains eight recommendations and nine options to assist orthopaedic surgeons and all qualified physicians managing patients who have been diagnosed by a trained healthcare provider with OA of the hip and are currently undergoing treatment. It is also intended to serve as an information resource for professional healthcare practitioners and developers of practice guidelines and recommendations. In addition to providing pragmatic practice recommendations, this guideline also highlights gaps in the literature and informs areas for future research and quality measure development., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Background: Concerns about falling (CaF) are common in older people and can lead to avoidance of activities, social isolation and reduced physical function. However, there is limited knowledge about CaF in people with osteoarthritis (OA); yet, symptoms may increase CaF. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CaF and associated factors in people with knee or hip OA., Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark registry including patients with OA treated in primary care. CaF was assessed with the Short Falls Efficacy Scale International (Short FES-I, range 7-28, low to high). Associations between CaF and pain, function and psychological factors were evaluated using multivariable linear Tobit regression., Results: In total, 7442 patients were included [mean age 67 years (SD: 9.6), 67% females]. Mean Short FES-I was 9.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 9.7; 9.8]. Moderate CaF was observed in 48.1% (95% CI: 46.7; 48.9) of participants, whilst 11.3% (95% CI: 10.7; 12.1) had a high level of CaF. CaF was more prevalent in the oldest participants and in females. Pain intensity [β-value (95% CI): 0.52 (0.48; 0.55)], chair stand test [-0.21 (-0.22; -0.19)] and fear of movement [1.38 (1.19; 1.56)] were significantly associated with increased CaF across age groups and sex., Conclusions: CaF is common in people with OA, especially in the oldest participants and in females. Higher pain, lower function and psychological distress are associated with CaF; yet, the causality of the associations remain to be determined. Integrating CaF assessments and interventions into OA management in primary care seems highly relevant., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease due to the deterioration of cartilage structure and function, involving the progressive degradation of the cartilage extracellular matrix. Cathepsins, lysosomal cysteine proteases, play pivotal roles in various biological and pathological processes, particularly in protein degradation. Excess cathepsins levels are reported to contribute to the development of OA. However, the causal relationship between the cathepsin family and knee and hip OA remains uncertain. Therefore, this study utilized bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses to explore this causal association. Our results indicated that elevated serum levels of cathepsin O increase the overall risk of knee OA, while increased serum levels of cathepsin H enhance the risk of hip OA. Conversely, the reverse MR analyses did not reveal a reverse causal relationship between them. In summary, OA in different anatomical locations may genetically result from pathological elevations in different serum cathepsin isoforms, which could be utilized as diagnostic and therapeutic targets in clinical practice., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To provide a set of diagnostic criteria for early-stage hip osteoarthritis (OA) in primary care, using signs and symptoms monitored over 2 years in individuals with hip pain and/or stiffness. Additionally, the study aimed to see whether these factors were additive to factors based on baseline signs and symptoms only., Methods: Data of the 543 persons with 735 symptomatic hips were collected from the prospective Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee cohort study. Using data from 5 to 10 years of follow-up, 24 experts (13 general practitioners, 11 secondary care physicians (6 rheumatologists and 5 orthopaedic surgeons)) inspected individuals' medical data on the presence of clinically relevant hip OA. Their diagnoses are used as reference standards. Backward selection method was used to provide models using the factors from baseline to 2 years of follow-up. Additionally, new models were combined with previously published models, using same selection method. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated after each removal of factors in the final combined models., Results: Radiographic factors and high-sensitive C reactive protein did not end up in any model with change factors only. AUC value (SD) of the final obtained model of change factors was 0.70 (0.01). Adding newly defined factors to previously published models significantly (p<0.0001) increased the AUC value to 0.75 (0.01)., Conclusion: Final diagnostic criteria, consisting only of the factors obtained through history taking and physical examination, were able to detect early-stage hip OA associated with clinically relevant hip OA 5-10 years later, with 'moderate' precision., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine dose parameters for resistance exercise associated with improvements in pain and physical function in knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) and whether these improvements were related to adherence., Methods: We searched six databases, from inception to January 28, 2023, for randomized controlled trials comparing land-based, resistance exercise-only interventions with no intervention, or any other intervention. There were four subgroups of intervention duration: 0 to <3 months, 3 to 6 months, >6 to <12 months, ≥12 months. The between-group effect was calculated for immediate postintervention pain and physical function (activities of daily living [ADL] and sports/recreation [SPORT])., Results: For both knee and hip, data from 280 studies showed moderate benefit for pain, physical function ADL, and physical function SPORT in favor of interventions 3 to 6 months. For the knee, there was also a moderate benefit for physical function ADL in favor of interventions >6 to <12 months. From 151 knee and hip studies that provided total exercise volume data (frequency, time, duration), there was no association between volume with the effect size for pain and physical function. A total of 74 studies (69 knee, 5 hip) reported usable adherence data. There was no association between adherence with the effect size for pain and physical function., Conclusion: In knee and hip OA, resistance exercise interventions 3 to 6 months (and for the knee >6 to <12 months) duration improve pain and physical function. Improvements do not depend on exercise volume or adherence, suggesting exercise does not require rigid adherence to a specific dose., (© 2024 The Authors. Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) commonly affects the knee and hip joints and accounts for 19.3% of disability-adjusted life years and years lived with disability worldwide (Refs , ). Early management is important in order to avoid disability uphold quality of life (Ref. ). However, a lack of awareness of subclinical and early symptomatic stages of OA often hampers early management (Ref. ). Moreover, late diagnosis of OA among those with severe disease, at a stage when OA management becomes more complicated is common (Refs , , , ). Established risk factors for the development and progression of OA include increasing age, female, history of trauma and obesity (Ref. ). Recent studies have also drawn a link between OA and metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension (Refs , ).

Purpose: To evaluate the domain match (truth) and feasibility of candidate instruments assessing flare in knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) according to the identified domains., Material and Methods: From a literature review (575 papers), instruments were selected and evaluated using the truth and feasibility elements of the OMERACT Filter 2.2. These were evaluated by 26 experts, including patients, in two Delphi survey rounds. The final selection was obtained by a vote., Results: 44 instruments were identified. In Delphi Round 1, five instruments were selected. In Round 2, all instruments obtained at least 75 % in terms of content match with the endorsed domains and feasibility. In the final selection, the Flare-OA questionnaire obtained 100 % favorable votes., Conclusion: Through consensus of the working group, the Flare-OA questionnaire was selected as the best candidate instrument to move into a full assessment of its measurement properties using the OMERACT Filter 2.2., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: none competing interests, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide. Self-management is vital with education, exercise and weight loss core recommended treatments. However, evidence-practice gaps exist, and service models that increase patient accessibility to clinicians who can support lifestyle management are needed. The primary aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a telehealth-delivered clinician-supported exercise and weight loss program (Better Hip) on the primary outcomes of hip pain on walking and physical function at 6 months, compared with an information-only control for people with hip OA., Methods: A two-arm, parallel-design, superiority pragmatic randomised controlled trial. 212 members from a health insurance fund aged 45 years and over, with painful hip OA will be recruited. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive: i) Better Hip; or ii) web-based information only (control). Participants randomised to the Better Hip program will have six videoconferencing physiotherapist consultations for education about OA, prescription of individualised home-based strengthening and physical activity programs, behaviour change support, and facilitation of other self-management strategies. Those with a body mass index > 27 kg/m 2 , aged < 80 years and no specific health conditions, will also be offered six videoconferencing dietitian consultations to undertake a weight loss program. Participants in the control group will be provided with similar educational information about managing hip OA via a custom website. All participants will be reassessed at 6 and 12 months. Primary outcomes are hip pain on walking and physical function. Secondary outcomes include measures of pain; hip function; weight; health-related quality of life; physical activity levels; global change in hip problem; willingness to undergo hip replacement surgery; rates of hip replacement; and use of oral pain medications. A health economic evaluation at 12 months will be conducted and reported separately., Discussion: Findings will determine whether a telehealth-delivered clinician-supported lifestyle management program including education, exercise/physical activity and, for those with overweight or obesity, weight loss, is more effective than information only in people with hip OA. Results will inform the implementation of such programs to increase access to core recommended treatments., Trial Registration: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000461796)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To examine the association of current and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) with patient-reported functional status, quality of life and disability in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA)., Methods: Cross-sectional study amongst individuals seeking care for any medical reason in a primary care family-practice clinic in Mexico City. We included individuals with self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis, recruited through waiting-room posters and invitations by treating family physicians. We administered a survey using validated Spanish language versions of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Osteoarthritis of Lower Limbs and Quality of Life (AMICAL), and the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). To estimate current and childhood SES, we collected data on education level and occupation type for both the patient and their parents, as well as using a validated tool to estimate income quintile., Results: We recruited 154 patients and excluded 8 patients. There was a high correlation between outcome scores. Estimated income and education levels were correlated with WOMAC, AMICAL and HAQ-DI scores, and significant differences were found in all scores by occupation type. The associations for current SES variables and outcome scores remained significant independently of age, sex, BMI, and presence of diabetes or hypertension, and were largely explained by current income in mutually adjusted models. Childhood SES - in particular as measured through maternal education - was best correlated with AMICAL scores, though its effect seemed largely mediated by its association with current SES., Conclusions: Current Socioeconomic Status impacts functional status, quality of life and disability amongst OA patients in Mexico City. The WOMAC, AMICAL and HAQ-DI scores correlate with each other and are all potentially useful markers of disease severity. More research is needed to elucidate the relationships between childhood SES and OA outcomes. Awareness of life-course SES may be useful in identifying patients at risk for worse outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a major risk factor for the early development of hip osteoarthritis. Recent studies have demonstrated how DDH alters hip muscle moment arms and elevates muscle-induced biomechanical variables such as joint reaction forces and acetabular edge loads. Understanding the link between abnormal biomechanics and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is important for evidence-based clinical interventions that improve patient symptoms and functional outcomes. To our knowledge, there are no reports of the relationships between muscle-induced biomechanics and PROMs., Questions/purposes: (1) Are there associations between PROMs and muscle-induced hip biomechanics during gait for patients with DDH and controls? (2) Are there associations among PROMs and separately among biomechanical variables?, Methods: Participants in this prospective cross-sectional comparative study included 20 female patients with DDH who had no prior surgery or osteoarthritis and 15 female individuals with no evidence of hip pathology (controls) (age: median 23 years [range 16 to 39 years]; BMI: median 22 kg/m 2 [range 17 to 27 kg/m 2 ]). Muscle-induced biomechanical variables for this cohort were reported and had been calculated from patient-specific musculoskeletal models, motion data, and MRI. Biomechanical variables included joint reaction forces, acetabular edge loads, hip center lateralization, and gluteus medius muscle moment arm lengths. PROMs included the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), the WOMAC, International Hip Outcome Tool-12, National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference and Physical Function subscales, and University of California Los Angeles activity scale. Associations between PROMs and biomechanical variables were tested using Spearman rank-order correlations and corrected for multiple comparisons using the Benjamini-Yekutieli method. For this study, associations between variables were considered to exist when correlations were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and were either strong (ρ ≥ 0.60) or moderate (ρ = 0.40 to 0.59)., Results: Acetabular edge load impulses (the cumulative acetabular edge load across the gait cycle), medially directed joint reaction forces, and hip center lateralization most commonly demonstrated moderate or strong associations with PROMs. The strongest associations were a negative correlation between acetabular edge load impulse on the superior acetabulum and the HOOS function in daily living subscale (ρ = -0.63; p = 0.001), followed by a negative correlation between hip center lateralization and the HOOS pain subscale (ρ = -0.6; p = 0.003), and a positive correlation between hip center lateralization and the PROMIS pain subscale (ρ = 0.62; p = 0.002). The University of California Los Angeles activity scale was the only PROM that did not demonstrate associations with any biomechanical variable. All PROMs, aside from the University of California Los Angeles activity scale, were associated with one another. Although most of the biomechanical variables were associated with one another, these relationships were not as consistent as those among PROMs., Conclusion: The associations with PROMs detected in the current study suggest that muscle-induced biomechanics may have wide-reaching effects not only on loads within the hip, but also on patients' perceptions of their health and function. As the treatment of DDH evolves, patient-specific joint preservation strategies may benefit from targeting the underlying causes of biomechanical outcomes associated with PROMs., Level of Evidence: Level III, prognostic study., Competing Interests: Each author certifies that there are no funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article related to the author or any immediate family members. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request., (Copyright © 2023 by the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.)

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the content validity/domain match and feasibility of self-report instruments that could measure flare in osteoarthritis (OA), by extending our 2017 literature review on the definition of flare in knee and hip OA., Method: We searched PubMed (Medline), Web of Science and PsycInfo (Ebsco Host) databases for original articles reporting research about flare (or synonyms) in humans with knee and hip OA, between 2017 and 2023. Four experts worked independently, checking the records, and assessing content validity and feasibility, writing justification for exclusion., Results: At literature review phase, 575 papers were filtered. After experts' analysis, 59 studies were included, and 44 instruments associated with flare in OA were identified. Most were studies about pain in knee or hip OA (35 %), cultural adaptation of a measure (33 %) or studies investigating psychometric properties of full (16 %) or short form (4 %) instruments. The assessment of domain match and feasibility revealed that 15 instruments were assigned a label of 'yes' or 'uncertain' as to whether or not there was a good match with the domain concept or whether the instrument was considered feasible to use., Discussion: Most identified instruments considered different aspects of pain and the associated discomfort in performing daily activities but did not include the central aspects of flare in OA, i.e. the change of state, nor the additional Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) endorsed domains for OA flare namely stiffness, swelling, psychological aspects, impact of symptoms including fatigue and sleep disturbance. Although it is possible that the period specified to conduct this literature review may have led to some recognized instruments being excluded, this review demonstrates the need for the research community to reach consensus on the best way to measure self-reported flares in future clinical trials and observational studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The spread of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to transformative advancements in diverse sectors, including healthcare. Specifically, generative writing systems have shown potential in various applications, but their effectiveness in clinical settings has been barely investigated. In this context, we evaluated the proficiency of ChatGPT-4 in diagnosing gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis and recommending appropriate treatments compared with orthopaedic specialists., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted using anonymized medical records of 100 patients previously diagnosed with either knee or hip arthrosis. ChatGPT-4 was employed to analyse these historical records, formulating both a diagnosis and potential treatment suggestions. Subsequently, a comparative analysis was conducted to assess the concordance between the AI's conclusions and the original clinical decisions made by the physicians., Results: In diagnostic evaluations, ChatGPT-4 consistently aligned with the conclusions previously drawn by physicians. In terms of treatment recommendations, there was an 83% agreement between the AI and orthopaedic specialists. The therapeutic concordance was verified by the calculation of a Cohen's Kappa coefficient of 0.580 (p < 0.001). This indicates a moderate-to-good level of agreement. In recommendations pertaining to surgical treatment, the AI demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 80%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that the variables reduced quality of life (OR 49.97, p < 0.001) and start-up pain (OR 12.54, p = 0.028) have an influence on ChatGPT-4's recommendation for a surgery., Conclusion: This study emphasises ChatGPT-4's notable potential in diagnosing conditions such as gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis and in aligning its treatment recommendations with those of orthopaedic specialists. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that AI tools such as ChatGPT-4 are not meant to replace the nuanced expertise and clinical judgment of seasoned orthopaedic surgeons, particularly in complex decision-making scenarios regarding treatment indications. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, further research with larger patient populations and more complex diagnoses is necessary to validate the findings and explore the broader potential of AI in healthcare., Level of Evidence: Level III evidence., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To explore clustering of comorbidities among patients with a new diagnosis of OA and estimate the 10-year mortality risk for each identified cluster., Methods: This is a population-based cohort study of individuals with first incident diagnosis of OA of the hip, knee, ankle/foot, wrist/hand or 'unspecified' site between 2006 and 2020, using SIDIAP (a primary care database representative of Catalonia, Spain). At the time of OA diagnosis, conditions associated with OA in the literature that were found in ≥1% of the individuals (n = 35) were fitted into two cluster algorithms, k-means and latent class analysis. Models were assessed using a range of internal and external evaluation procedures. Mortality risk of the obtained clusters was assessed by survival analysis using Cox proportional hazards., Results: We identified 633 330 patients with a diagnosis of OA. Our proposed best solution used latent class analysis to identify four clusters: 'low-morbidity' (relatively low number of comorbidities), 'back/neck pain plus mental health', 'metabolic syndrome' and 'multimorbidity' (higher prevalence of all studied comorbidities). Compared with the 'low-morbidity' cluster, the 'multimorbidity' cluster had the highest risk of 10-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.19 [95% CI: 2.15, 2.23]), followed by the 'metabolic syndrome' cluster (adjusted HR: 1.24 [95% CI: 1.22, 1.27]) and the 'back/neck pain plus mental health' cluster (adjusted HR: 1.12 [95% CI: 1.09, 1.15])., Conclusion: Patients with a new diagnosis of OA can be clustered into groups based on their comorbidity profile, with significant differences in 10-year mortality risk. Further research is required to understand the interplay between OA and particular comorbidity groups, and the clinical significance of such results., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology.)

Background: Physicians who treat patients with lower limb diseases should pay attention not only to the patients' clinical condition but also to their individual needs and expectations. For this purpose, many different questionnaires can be employed. This study aimed to validate the Lower Limb Task Questionnaire (LLTQ), Lower Limb Functional Index (LLFI), and Lower Limb Functional Index-10 (LLFI-10) for their use in Polish conditions and to perform a mutual comparison and analysis of differences in subjective assessments by patients who undergo hip or knee arthroplasty., Methods: The LLTQ, LLFI, and LLFI-10 were translated into Polish. A total of 103 patients who qualified for hip or knee arthroplasty at a University Hospital in from 2019 to 2021 were included in this study. The patients were asked to complete the Polish versions of the LLTQ, LLFI, LLFI-10, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and Short Form-36 four times - twice before and twice after their surgeries., Results: The Polish versions of the LLTQ, LLFI, and LLFI-10 had good psychometric properties. One year after surgery, the Cohen's standard response mean revealed high improvement of limb functionality and thus quality of life among all patients. We observed better treatment outcomes among patients who had hip osteoarthritis., Conclusions: The questionnaires were validated and can be used both in everyday health practice and in further research in Poland., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2022 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of diagnostic labels and their explanations on people's beliefs about managing hip pain. DESIGN: Online randomized controlled trial involving 626 participants. METHODS: Participants aged ≥45 years with and without hip pain considered a hypothetical scenario (initial doctor consultation for hip pain). They were randomized to receive a diagnostic label and explanation of (1) hip osteoarthritis , (2) persistent hip pain , or (3) hip degeneration . Primary outcomes were the beliefs (1) exercise would damage the hip and (2) surgery is necessary at some stage (scales, 0 = definitely would not/unnecessary, 10 = definitely would/necessary). Secondary outcomes included beliefs about other treatments and care providers. RESULTS: Compared to hip degeneration , participants who were allocated to hip osteoarthritis and persistent hip pain believed exercise was less damaging (mean difference -1.3 [95% CI: -1.9, -0.7] and -1.8 [-2.3, -1.2], respectively) and surgery less necessary (-1.5 [-2.1, -1.0] and -2.2 [-2.7, -1.6], respectively). Compared to hip osteoarthritis, participants who were allocated to persistent hip pain believed surgery was less necessary (-0.7 [-1.2, -0.1]), but not that exercise was less damaging (-0.5 [-1.1, 0.1]). Compared to hip degeneration, participants who were allocated to hip osteoarthritis and persistent hip pain were less concerned about their hip and believed exercise and care from an exercise and sports physician, rheumatologist, or physiotherapist would be more helpful, and care from an orthopaedic surgeon less helpful. CONCLUSIONS: People who were allocated a diagnostic label and explanation of hip osteoarthritis or persistent hip pain believed exercise was less damaging and surgery less necessary for a hip problem than hip degeneration. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2023;53(11):673-684. Epub 5 October 2023. doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.11984 .

Competing Interests: The author certifies that there are no funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article related to the author or any immediate family members. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.

Background: Some patients report long-term pain or no improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) or are dissatisfied after THA. However, factors associated with these poorer patient-reported outcomes after surgery are inconsistent and have typically been studied in the late phase of hip osteoarthritis (OA) among patients already eligible for surgery. Earlier identification of risk factors would provide time to address modifiable factors, helping to improve patients' pain, HRQoL, and satisfaction after surgery and reduce the burden on orthopaedic clinics by referring patients who are better prepared for surgery., Questions/purposes: We analyzed data from patients with hip OA referred to a first-line OA intervention program in primary healthcare at a stage when they had not been referred for THA, and asked: (1) What percentage of patients who proceed to THA report lack of improvement in pain, lack of improvement in HRQoL as measured by the EQ-5D, or are not satisfied with surgery 1 year after THA? (2) What associations exist between baseline factors at referral to this first-line OA intervention program and these poorer patient-reported outcomes 1 year after THA?, Methods: We included 3411 patients with hip OA (mean age 67 ± 9 years, 63% [2160 of 3411] women) who had been referred for first-line OA interventions between 2008 and 2015 and subsequently underwent THA for OA. All patients were initially identified through the Swedish Osteoarthritis Register, which follows and evaluates patients in a standardized national first-line OA intervention program. Then, we identified those who were also registered in the Swedish Arthroplasty Register with a THA during the study period. We included only those with complete patient-reported outcome measures for pain, HRQoL, and satisfaction preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively, representing 78% (3411 of 4368) of patients, who had the same baseline characteristics as nonrespondents. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the associations between 14 baseline factors and the aforementioned patient-reported outcomes of pain, HRQoL, and satisfaction 1 year after THA, adjusted for all included factors., Results: Five percent (156 of 3411) of the study population lacked improvement in pain, 11% (385 of 3411) reported no improvement in HRQoL, and 10% (339 of 3411) reported they were not satisfied with surgery 1 year after THA. Charnley Class C (multiple-joint OA or another condition that affects the ability to walk) was associated with all outcomes: lack of improvement in pain (OR 1.84 [95% CI 1.24 to 2.71]; p = 0.002), lack of improvement in HRQoL (OR 1.83 [95% CI 1.42 to 2.36]; p < 0.001), and not being satisfied (OR 1.40 [95% CI 1.07 to 1.82]; p = 0.01). Older age was associated with a lack of improvement in pain (OR per year 1.03 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.05]; p = 0.02), lack of improvement in HRQoL (OR per year 1.04 [95% CI 1.03 to 1.06]; p < 0.001), and not being satisfied (OR per year 1.03 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.05]; p < 0.001). Depression was associated with a lack of improvement in pain (OR 1.54 [95% CI 1.00 to 2.35]; p = 0.050) and with not being satisfied (OR 1.50 [95% CI 1.11 to 2.04]; p = 0.01) but not with a lack of improvement in HRQoL (OR 1.04 [95% CI 0.76 to 1.43]; p = 0.79). Having four or more comorbidities was associated with a lack of improvement in HRQoL (OR 2.08 [95% CI 1.39 to 3.10]; p < 0.001) but not with a lack of improvement in pain and not being satisfied., Conclusion: The results of this study showed that older age, Charley Class C, and depression in patients with first-line OA interventions were risk factors associated with poorer outcomes regarding pain, HRQoL, and satisfaction after THA. Screening patients with hip OA for depression early in the disease course would provide increased time to optimize treatments and may contribute to better patient-reported pain, HRQoL, and satisfaction after future THA. Further research should focus on identifying the optimal time for surgery in patients with depression, as well as what targeted interventions for depression can improve outcome of surgery in these patients., Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study., Competing Interests: All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request., (Copyright © 2023 by the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.)

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a leading cause of disability with limited data available for the Greek patients., Objectives: To evaluate the impact of moderate to severe symptomatic hip/knee OA under treatment on physical performance and quality of life., Methods: A non-interventional, cross-sectional, epidemiological study of patients with moderate/severe OA, recruited in a single visit from 9 expert sites in Athens, Greece. Assessments were based on commonly used outcome scales: the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the EuroQol-5-Dimensions 3-levels questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L)., Results: One hundred sixty-four patients were included in the analysis. Most of the patients were females (78.7%), with a mean age of 70.5 ± 10.2 years. Comorbidities were reported by 87.2% of patients with hypertension being the most frequently reported (53.7%), followed by dyslipidemia (31.1%), obesity (24.4%) and diabetes mellitus (23.2%). Paracetamol was the most common treatment (96%), followed by NSAIDs (75%), opioids (50%) and locally applied medications (42.7%). Both hip and knee OA patients showed substantial deterioration in health-related quality of life (QoL) and health status as reflected by the HOOS/KOOS (Function in sport and recreation was the most impaired subscale, followed by Hip- or Knee-related QoL). The mean EQ-5D-3L index score was 0.396 ± 0.319 and the mean EQ-VAS score was 52.1 ± 1.9. When compared indirectly to the local population norms our OA population had worse QoL indices., Conclusion: Our findings suggest the functional disability and impaired QoL of Greek patients with moderate/severe hip/knee OA under treatment emphasizing the need for novel treatments that will reduce the burden of the disease., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To describe adherence to a 12-week web-based aerobic exercise programme, to compare characteristics between those who adhere or not, and to identify barriers for exercising in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis., Design: Single-arm feasibility study., Subjects: Patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis in specialist healthcare, age 40-80 years, and not candidates for joint surgery., Methods: Adherence to a 12-week exercise programme was defined as having completed ≥ 2 exercise sessions a week for at least 8 weeks. Baseline differences between adherent and non-adherent groups in demographics, symptoms, disability, physical activity and fitness were assessed using Mann-Whitney U or χ2 tests. Reasons for not completing exercise sessions were reported in weekly diaries.  Results: A total of 29 patients (median age 64 years, 72% female) were included. Median baseline pain (numerical rating scale 0-10) was 5. Fifteen patients adhered to the exercise programme, 14 did not. Non-adherent patients were less active (p = 0.032) and had lower cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.031). The most frequently reported barrier to exercising was sickness. Less than 10% reported pain as a barrier., Conclusion: Half of the patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis adhered to the digitally delivered exercise programme and the most frequently reported barrier for adherence was sickness, while less than 10% reported pain as a reason for not exercising., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04084834. The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics South-East, 2018/2198.

Introduction: Studies show that females have a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis, worse symptoms, but lower rates of joint replacement surgery (JRS). The reason for this remains unknown., Methods: A database of JRS candidates was created for patients seen in 2019 at an academic center. Demographics, Kellgren-Lawrence grades, symptom duration, visual analogue pain score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and nonsurgical treatments were collected. Patients who were offered but declined surgery were invited to focus groups. Two independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and chi-square tests were used for continuous, scored, and categorical variables, respectively, with two-tailed significance <0.05. Qualitative, code-based analysis was performed for the focus groups., Results: The cohort included 321 patients (81 shoulder, 59 hip, and 181 knee) including 199 females (62.0%). There were no differences in proportions of females versus males who underwent JRS or in nonsurgical treatments. Female shoulder arthritis patients were older, had a higher visual analogue pain score, and had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index. In focus groups, males prioritized waiting for technology advancements to return to an active lifestyle, whereas females experienced negative provider interactions, self-advocated for treatment, concerned about pain, and believed that their sex affected their treatment., Discussion: We found equal utilization of JRS at our institution. However, female patients experienced unique barriers to surgery., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Background: Mobile health applications (apps) can help individuals with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis (OA) learn about, monitor, and manage their condition. These apps have not been formally evaluated., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the publicly available mobile health apps for individuals with knee and/or hip OA using a systematic review., Methods: We searched the Apple App Store, Android Google Play, and Amazon Appstore using the terms "arthritis," "osteoarthritis," "hip OA," "knee OA," "hip," "knee," "rehabilitation," "rehab," and "physical therapy" in December of 2021. Applications that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were reviewed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS; 29 items across 6 sections, each rated at 1-5)., Results: Among 1104 identified apps, 94 met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for MARS appraisal. Fourteen apps met the predetermined score thresholds for final summary. Of the 14 apps appraised, the total overall mean app score on the MARS ranged from 3.12 to 4.20 (mean, 3.51 ± 0.37). Although app features varied, common features were symptom tracking, exercise recommendations, education, goal setting, and improving well-being. Many apps allowed for sharing with health care providers and included some measures to protect privacy. Jointfully Osteoarthritis was the top-rated app in both the Apple App Store and Android Google Play., Conclusions: The majority of the apps we identified for knee and/or hip OA did not meet predetermined score thresholds for final summary. Many failed to provide comprehensive education and deliver management plans and lacked scientific testing. Future research should focus on apps that fit the needs of health care providers and patients including quality information, structured exercise programs tailored to individual needs, secure communication methods, and health information protection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The present study aimed to determine the distribution of Veterans RAND 12-Item health survey (VR-12) mental component scores (MCS) of patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and the thresholds of VR-12 MCS scores that predict higher health care utilizations and 1-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)., Methods: A prospective cohort of 4,194 primary THA patients (January 2016 to December 2019) were included. Multivariable and cubic spline regression models were used to test for associations between preoperative VR-12 MCS and postoperative outcomes, including: 90-day hospital resource utilization (nonhome discharge, prolonged length of stay [LOS](ie, ≥3 days), all-cause readmission), attainment of patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) at 1-year postoperative and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) in the hip disability osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS)-pain and HOOS-physical short form., Results: Lower VR-12 MCS was associated with older age, obesity, Black race, women, and smokers (all P < .001). Preoperative VR-12 MCS<20 was associated with more than twice the odds of nonhome discharge (odds ratio [OR]:2.31) and prolonged LOS (OR: 3.46). VR-12 MCS >60 was associated with higher odds of achieving PASS (OR: 2.00) and SCB in HOOS-joint related (JR) (OR: 1.16). Starting VR-12 MCS ≤40, there were exponentially higher odds of worse outcomes., Conclusion: Low preoperative VR-12 MCS, specifically less than 40, may predict increased health care utilization. Furthermore, preoperative VR-12 MCS>60 predicts greater satisfaction at 1 year and higher odds of achieving SCB in HOOS-JR. Quantifiable thresholds for VR-12 MCS may aid in shared decision-making and patient counseling in setting expectations or may guide specific care pathway interventions to address mental health during THA., Level of Evidence: II., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: No algorithms exist to identify important osteoarthritis (OA) patient subgroups (i.e., moderate-to-severe disease, inadequate response to pain treatments) in electronic healthcare data, possibly due to the complexity in defining these characteristics as well as the lack of relevant measures in these data sources. We developed and validated algorithms intended for use with claims and/or electronic medical records (EMR) to identify these patient subgroups., Methods: We obtained claims, EMR, and chart data from two integrated delivery networks. Chart data were used to identify the presence or absence of the three relevant OA-related characteristics (OA of the hip and/or knee, moderate-to-severe disease, inadequate/intolerable response to at least two pain-related medications); the resulting classification served as the benchmark for algorithm validation. We developed two sets of case-identification algorithms: one based on a literature review and clinical input (predefined algorithms), and another using machine learning (ML) methods (logistic regression, classification and regression tree, random forest). Patient classifications based on these algorithms were compared and validated against the chart data., Results: We sampled and analyzed 571 adult patients, of whom 519 had OA of hip and/or knee, 489 had moderate-to-severe OA, and 431 had inadequate response to at least two pain medications. Individual predefined algorithms had high positive predictive values (all PPVs ≥ 0.83) for identifying each of these OA characteristics, but low negative predictive values (all NPVs between 0.16-0.54) and sometimes low sensitivity; their sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with all three characteristics was 0.95 and 0.26, respectively (NPV 0.65, PPV 0.78, accuracy 0.77). ML-derived algorithms performed better in identifying this patient subgroup (range: sensitivity 0.77-0.86, specificity 0.66-0.75, PPV 0.88-0.92, NPV 0.47-0.62, accuracy 0.75-0.83)., Conclusions: Predefined algorithms adequately identified OA characteristics of interest, but more sophisticated ML-based methods better differentiated between levels of disease severity and identified patients with inadequate response to analgesics. The ML methods performed well, yielding high PPV, NPV, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy using either claims or EMR data. Use of these algorithms may expand the ability of real-world data to address questions of interest in this underserved patient population., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Physical therapy-led orthopedic triage is a care model used to optimize pathways for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. However, scientific evidence of the effectiveness of this model of care is still limited and only a few studies report patients' perception of it. The aim of this study was to compare patients' perceived quality of care after physical therapy-led triage with standard practice in a secondary care setting for patients with primary hip or knee osteoarthritis., Methods: In this randomized study, patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis referred for an orthopedic consultation received either physical therapy-led triage (n = 344) or a standard care assessment by an orthopedic surgeon (n = 294). To evaluate the patients' perceived quality of care, a short version of the Quality from the Patient's Perspective (QPP) questionnaire was sent to the patients within a week after their assessment. The primary outcome was the statement "I received the best examination and treatment" on QPP., Results: A total of 348 patients (70%, physical therapy-led triage: n = 249, standard care: n = 199) answered the questionnaire. No significant difference was found in the primary outcome between the groups (p = 0.6). Participants in the triage group perceived themselves to have received significantly better information about how to take care of their osteoarthritis (p = 0.017) compared with the standard care group. The standard care group reported that they participated in the decision-making process to a greater extent (p = 0.005), that their expectations were met to a greater degree (p = 0.013), and that their care depended more on their need for care rather than the caregivers' routines (0.007)., Conclusion: Both groups report high perceived quality of care. Significant differences were found in four of 14 questions, one in favor of the physical therapist and three in favor of the standard care group. The findings of this study are in line with previous research and support the use of this care model for patients with hip or knee OA in secondary care. However, due to the dropout size, the results should be interpreted with caution., Trial Registration: Clinical Trials NCT04665908, registered 14/12/2020., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: General practitioners (GP) are often the first medical professionals to treat musculoskeletal complaints. Yet the impact of COVID-19 on primary care utilisation for musculoskeletal complaints is largely unknown. This study quantifies the impact of the pandemic on primary care utilisation for musculoskeletal complaints and specifically osteoarthritis (OA) in the Netherlands., Design: We extracted data on GP consultations in 2015-2020 from 118,756 patients over 45 years of age and estimated reductions in consultations in 2020 as compared to 5-year average. Outcomes were GP consultations for: any musculoskeletal complaints, knee and hip OA, knee and hip complaints, and newly diagnosed knee and hip OA/complaints., Results: The relative reductions in consultations ranged from 46.7% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 43.9-49.3%) (all musculoskeletal consultations) to 61.6% (95% CI: 44.7-73.3%) (hip complaints) at the peak of the first wave, and from 9.3% (95% CI: 5.7-12.7%) (all musculoskeletal consultations) to 26.6% (95% CI: 11.5-39.1%) (knee OA) at the peak of the second wave. The reductions for new diagnoses were 87.0% (95% CI: 71.5-94.1%) for knee OA/complaints, and 70.5% (95% CI: 37.7-86.0%) for hip OA/complaints at the peak of the first wave, and not statistically significant at the peak of the second wave., Conclusion: We observed 47% reduction in GP consultations for musculoskeletal disorders during the first wave and 9% during the second wave. For hip and knee OA/complaints, the reductions were over 50% during the first, and 10% during the second wave. This disruption may lead to accumulation of patients with severe OA symptoms and more requests for arthroplasty surgery., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the risk of comorbidity following diagnosis of knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA)., Design: A cohort study was conducted using the Integrated Primary Care Information database, containing electronic health records of 2.5 million patients from the Netherlands. Adults at risk for OA were included. Diagnosis of knee or hip OA (=exposure) and 58 long-term comorbidities (=outcome) were defined by diagnostic codes following the International Classification of Primary Care coding system. Time between the start of follow-up and incident diagnosis of OA was defined as unexposed, and between diagnosis of OA and the end of follow-up as exposed. Age and sex adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) comparing comorbidity rates in exposed and unexposed patient time were estimated with 99.9% confidence intervals (CI)., Results: The study population consisted of 1,890,712 patients. For 30 of the 58 studied comorbidities, exposure to knee OA showed a HR larger than 1. Largest positive associations (HR with (99.9% CIs)) were found for obesity 2.55 (2.29-2.84) and fibromyalgia 2.06 (1.53-2.77). For two conditions a HR < 1 was found, other comorbidities showed no association with exposure to knee OA. For 26 comorbidities, exposure to hip OA showed a HR larger than 1. The largest were found for polymyalgia rheumatica 1.81 (1.41-2.32) and fibromyalgia 1.70 (1.10-2.63). All other comorbidities showed no associations with hip OA., Conclusion: This study showed that many comorbidities were diagnosed more often in patients with knee or hip OA. This suggests that the management of OA should consider the risk of other long-term-conditions., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Previous studies have found that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) often co-occurs with knee or hip OA and can impact treatment response. However, it is unclear what participant characteristics may be helpful in identifying individuals with these co-occurring conditions. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore characteristics associated with comorbid symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in people with knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) enrolled in a primary care education and exercise program., Methods: Sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, health status measures, and a self-report questionnaire on the presence of LSS symptoms was collected at baseline from the Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark primary care program for knee and hip OA. Cross-sectional associations between characteristics and the presence of comorbid LSS symptoms were assessed separately in participants with primary complaint of knee and hip OA, using domain-specific logistic models and a logistic model including all characteristics., Results: A total of 6,541 participants with a primary complaint of knee OA and 2,595 participants with a primary complaint of hip OA were included, of which 40% and 50% reported comorbid LSS symptoms, respectively. LSS symptoms were associated with similar characteristics in knee and hip OA. Sick leave was the only sociodemographic variable consistently associated with LSS symptoms. For clinical characteristics, back pain, longer symptom duration and bilateral or comorbid knee or hip symptoms were also consistently associated. Health status measures were not consistently related to LSS symptoms., Conclusion: Comorbid LSS symptoms in people with knee or hip OA undergoing a primary care treatment program of group-based education and exercise were common and associated with a similar set of characteristics. These characteristics may help to identify people with co-occurring LSS and knee or hip OA, which can be used to help guide clinical decision-making., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate whether osteoarthritis (OA)-specific assessment values (i.e., Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]) and generic pain and function (visual analog scale, Hanover Functionality Status Questionnaire) measured before and 12 months after arthroplasty are associated with the risk of long-term mortality in a cohort of patients with advanced OA of the hip or knee., Methods: The Ulm Osteoarthritis Study was a prospective cohort study of OA patients with unilateral total hip or knee replacement between January 1995 and December 1996. Correlation coefficients were calculated to describe the agreement between the different assessments. Mortality was assessed during the follow-up period (last update July 2019). Cox proportional regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality after adjusting for covariates., Results: Arthroplasty was accompanied by a clear reduction in pain and improved function throughout all assessments in the 706 included patients. The results of the adjusted Cox models showed no relationship between baseline and follow-up joint-specific WOMAC assessments and long-term mortality. However, an independent increased risk of mortality was found with generic function assessments. In the final adjusted model, the HR for the 12-month follow-up value was 1.79 (95% confidence interval 1.24-2.60) in the group with clinically relevant impairment versus the reference group., Conclusion: Poor function based on the generic assessment was associated with increased long-term mortality, suggesting that functional impairments in daily life activities may be more important for long-term survival than OA-specific impairments in this patient group., (© 2021 The Authors. Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Objective: To estimate the global prevalence of hip osteoarthritis (HOA) through a systematic review and meta-analysis, and to determine by regression analysis the respective relationships between age and sex, and sex and prevalence., Methods: EMBASE, PubMed, Web of science, CINAHL, and SCOPUS were searched from inception until August 2022. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the retrieved literature. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to derive the pooled prevalence. Variations in the prevalence estimate in different subgroups, including diagnostic methods, region, and patient sex, were examined by subgroup meta-analysis. Meta-regression was used to construct the age-specific prevalence of HOA., Results: A total of 31 studies were included in our analysis, involving 326,463 participants. Quality evaluation showed that all studies included in the analysis had a Quality Score of at least 4. The most frequently used method for diagnosing HOA was the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade classification, accounting for 19/31 (61.3%) studies. The pooled prevalence of HOA diagnosed based on the K-L grade ≥ 2 criterion was 8.55% (95% CI 4.85-13.18) worldwide. The prevalence of HOA was lowest in Africa at 1.20% (95% CI: 0.40-2.38), followed by Asia at 4.26% (95% CI 0.02-14.93) and North America at 7.95% (95% CI 1.98-17.36), and highest in Europe at 12.59% (95% CI 7.17-19.25). There was no statistically significant difference in HOA prevalence between men (9.42%, 95% CI:4.81-15.34) and women at (7.94%, 95% CI: 3.57-13.81). The regression model showed a correlation between age and the prevalence of HOA., Conclusion: HOA has high prevalence worldwide and increases with age. The prevalence varies significantly by region but not by patient sex. High-quality epidemiological studies are warranted to more accurately estimate the prevalence of HOA., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Large heterogeneity exists in the clinical manifestation of hip osteoarthritis (OA). It is therefore not surprising that pain and disability in individuals with hip OA and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) cannot be explained by biomedical variables alone. Indeed, also maladaptive pain-related cognitions and emotions can contribute to pain and disability, and can lead to poor treatment outcomes. Traumatic experiences, mental disorders, self-efficacy and social support can influence stress appraisal and strategies to cope with pain, but their influence on pain and disability has not yet been established in individuals with hip OA undergoing THA. This study aims (1) to determine the influence of traumatic experiences and mental disorders on pain processing before and shortly after THA (2) to identify preoperative clinical phenotypes in individuals with hip OA eligible for THA, (3) to identify pre- and early postoperative prognostic factors for outcomes in pain and disability after THA, and (4) to identify postoperative clinical phenotypes in individuals after THA., Methods: This prospective longitudinal cohort study will investigate 200 individuals undergoing THA for hip OA. Phenotyping variables and candidate prognostic factors include pain-related fear-avoidance behaviour, perceived injustice, mental disorders, traumatic experiences, self-efficacy, and social support. Peripheral and central pain mechanisms will be assessed with thermal quantitative sensory testing. The primary outcome measure is the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score. Other outcome measures include performance-based measures, hip muscle strength, the patient-specific functional scale, pain intensity, global perceived effect, and outcome satisfaction. All these measurements will be performed before surgery, as well as 6 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months after surgery. Pain-related cognitions and emotions will additionally be assessed in the early postoperative phase, on the first, third, fifth, and seventh day after THA. Main statistical methods that will be used to answer the respective research questions include: LASSO regression, decision tree learning, gradient boosting algorithms, and recurrent neural networks., Discussion: The identification of clinical phenotypes and prognostic factors for outcomes in pain and disability will be a first step towards pre- and postoperative precision medicine for individuals with hip OA undergoing THA., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05265858. Registered on 04/03/2022., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate the trajectories of work and activity impairments among people participating in a digital self-management program for osteoarthritis (OA)., Methods: We conducted an observational longitudinal study using data for baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months follow ups from people participating in a digital OA treatment between June 2018 and September 2021. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-Osteoarthritis (WPAI-OA) questionnaire was used to measure work and activity impairments. We applied linear mixed models and group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) to assess the trajectories of work and activity impairments and their variability. Dominance analysis was performed to explore the relative importance of baseline characteristics in predicting the trajectory subgroup membership., Results: A total of 14,676 participants with mean (± standard deviation) age 64.0 (± 9.1) years and 75.5% females were included. The adjusted mean improvements in work impairment from baseline were 5.8% (95% CI 5.3, 6.4) to 6.1% (95% CI 5.5, 6.8). The corresponding figures for activity impairment were 9.4% (95% CI 9.0, 9.7) to 11.3% (95% CI 10.8, 11.8). GBTM identified five (low baseline-declining, moderate baseline-declining, high baseline-declining, very high baseline-substantially declining, and very high baseline-persistent) and three (low baseline-declining, mild baseline-declining, high baseline-declining) subgroups with distinct trajectories of activity and work impairments. Dominance analysis showed that baseline pain was the most important predictor of membership in trajectory subgroups., Conclusion: While participation in a digital self-management program for OA was, on average, associated with improvements in work and activity impairments, there were substantial variations among the participants. Baseline pain may provide useful insights to predict trajectories of work and activity impairments., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Previous studies have reported an inverse association between educational attainment and different osteoarthritis (OA) outcomes. However, none of the previous studies have accounted for potential confounding by early-life environment and genetics. Thus, we aimed to examine the association between educational attainment and knee and hip OA surgery using twin data., Methods: From the Swedish Twin Registry (STR), we identified dizygotic (DZ) and monozygotic (MZ) twins. All twins in the STR aged 35 to 64 years were followed from January the 1 st 1987 or the date they turned 35 years until OA surgery, relocation outside Sweden, death or the end of 2016 (18,784 DZ and 8,657 MZ complete twin pairs). Associations between educational attainment and knee and hip OA surgery were estimated in models matched on twin pairs, using Weibull within-between (WB) shared frailty model., Results: For knee OA surgery, the analysis matched on MZ twins yielded a within-estimate hazard ratio (HR) per 3 years of education, of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.32), suggesting no association between the outcome and the individual´s education. Rather, there seemed to be a so called familial effect of education, with a between-pair estimate of HR = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.41, 1.01). For hip OA surgery, the within- and between-pair estimates for MZ twins were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.14) and 1.15 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.42), respectively., Conclusions: Our results suggest that the inverse associations between education and knee/hip OA surgery observed in cohort studies are potentially confounded by unobserved familial factors like genetics and/or early life exposures., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Pain due to knee and / or hip osteoarthritis (HKOA) is the most common symptom for seeking healthcare. Pain interferes on daily activities, social and occupational participation in people with HKOA. The goal of this study is to estimate the prevalence of unmanageable pain levels (UPL) among people with HKOA), characterize this population and identify factors associated with UPL, and compare therapeutic strategies used by people with UPL versus manageable pain levels (MPL)., Methods: We analysed data from the EpiReumaPt study (n = 10,661), that included a representative sample of the Portuguese population. Among these, 1081 participants had a validated diagnosis of HKOA by a rheumatologist.. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related data were collected in a structured interview. Pain intensity (NPRS) data were collected in a medical appointment. Painmedication (last month), physiotherapy and surgery were considered as therapies for pain management. UPL was defined as a mean pain intensity in the previous week of ≥5 points on 11-point numeric pain rating scale. The factors associated with UPL were analyzed with logistic regression (p < 0.05, 95%CI). The effect of unmanageable pain levels was assessed by the HOOS/KOOS activities of daily living and quality of life subscales. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Analysis was completed with linear and logistic regression. All analysis were weighted., Results: The estimated prevalence of UPL among people with HKOA was 68.8%. UPL was associated with being female (odds ratio (OR) = 2.36, p < 0.001), being overweight (OR = 1.84, p = 0.035) or obese (OR = 2.26, p = 0.006), and having multimorbidity (OR = 2.08, p = 0.002). People with UPL reported worse performance in activities of daily living and lower quality of life (β = - 21.28, p < 0.001 and β = - 21.19, p < 0.001, respectively) than people with MPL. People with UPL consumed more NSAIDs (22.0%, p = 0.003), opioids (4.8%, p = 0.008), paracetamol (2.7%, p = 0.033), and overall analgesics (7.3%, p = 0.013) than people with MPL. A higher proportion of people with UPL underwent physiotherapy (17.5%, p = 0.002) than people with MPL., Conclusion: Two-thirds of people with HKOA in Portugal have poor management of their pain levels. Clinical and lifestyle factors, that are highly presented in individuals with HKOA, are associated with unmanageable pain. Our results highlighting the need for further research and implementation of effective interventions to improve pain, function and quality of life in people with HKOA., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To examine efficacy and safety of tramadol for knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA)., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched up to May 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any of the following interventions: tramadol 100 mg/day, 200 mg/day, and 300 mg/day, and placebo for knee or hip OA. Pain and function were measured at or near 12 weeks for efficacy. Gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and central nervous system (CNS) adverse events (AEs), and withdrawals were measured for safety. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted., Results: Six RCTs (3,611 participants) were included. Tramadol 100 mg/day (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.16 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.34, 0.00]), 200 mg/day (SMD -0.21 [95% CI -0.37, -0.06]), and 300 mg/day (SMD -0.30 [95% CI -0.48, -0.14]) were statistically more effective than placebo in pain relief, but only tramadol 300 mg/day was better than placebo in functional improvement (SMD -0.24 [95% CI -0.47, -0.03]). Tramadol 100 mg/day (relative risk [RR] 2.29 [95% credible interval (CrI) 1.22, 4.25]), 200 mg/day (RR 4.35 [95% CrI 2.31, 8.01]), and 300 mg/day (RR 6.02 [95% CrI 3.22, 11.1]) involved a higher risk of gastrointestinal AEs. Similarly, tramadol 100-300 mg/day showed a higher risk of CNS AEs and withdrawals. However, the risk of cardiovascular AEs remained unclear., Conclusion: Only tramadol 300 mg/day showed minimal improvement in pain and function but with increasing AEs compared with placebo. Tramadol may not be sufficiently recommended for knee or hip OA based on the presented evidence, especially in patients with the risk of gastrointestinal and CNS AEs., (© 2021 American College of Rheumatology.)

Osteoarthritis is a major source of pain, disability, and economic cost worldwide. For nearly a century, there has been a debate about the causes of hip osteoarthritis and the role that structural abnormalities may play as a causative factor. Recent advances in open and minimally invasive techniques such as the periacetabular osteotomy, surgical hip dislocation and arthroscopic approaches have allowed us safe access into the joint to not only improve the abnormal bony structure and repair damaged tissue but also to gain clinical insights into the cause of joint damage. At present, structural abnormalities such as acetabular dysplasia and CAM deformities of the proximal femur are thought to be a major factor causing premature hip OA. Over the past 30 years, our understanding of the function and biology of articular cartilage has evolved from a relatively acellular lubricating cushion to a metabolically active tissue that can modulate its tissue composition in response to mechanical loading. Using advanced biochemical MR imaging technique called delayed Gadolinium Enhanced MRI of Cartilage (dGEMRIC), it has been shown that alteration in the mechanical environment of the hip with a pelvic osteotomy in acetabular dysplasia can alter the articular cartilage composition. This further demonstrates the importance of mechanics in development of joint damage and the potential for surgical correction to prevent or slow down the progression of OA., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Physical activity and exercise are beneficial for people with rheumatic diseases; however, recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA) and hip- and knee osteoarthritis (HOA/KOA) are usually unspecific with respect to mode and dose of exercise. This is why the 2018 EULAR recommendations for physical activity in people with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis were formulated. The recommendations consist of 4 overarching principles and 10 recommendations. These were also published as a lay version in the English language., Aim: Translation of the lay version into German and its linguistic validation in Austria, Germany and Switzerland., Methods: A professional translation was reviewed by the authors, including people with, RA, SpA, HOA/KOA from the three German-speaking countries, which provided a prefinal lay version. Subsequently, eight interviews with people with RA, SpA, HOA/KOA were conducted in each country to evaluate understandability, wording, completeness and feasibility of the prefinal lay version. Finally, the authors, i.e. those with RA, SpA, and osteoarthritis, anonymously rated their agreement to the final lay version on a 0-10 scale., Results: The professional translation was substantially revised by the authors and based on the interviews. Formulations were adapted to increase readability and understandability and specify statements. Comments that would have changed content or structure were not considered. Average agreement with the particular recommendations was between 10 (SD 0) and 7.6 (SD 1.67)., Discussion: For people with RA/SpA/HOA/KOA the EULAR physical activity recommendations should be available in their mother language. The final German lay version is valid and accepted across all three German-speaking countries. Thus, the physical activity recommendations can be provided to people with rheumatic diseases in an understandable and feasible way., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Aim: to determine the impact of frailty on patient-reported outcomes following hip and knee arthroplasty., Methods: we used linked primary and secondary care electronic health records. Frailty was assessed using the electronic frailty index (categorised: fit, mild, moderate, severe frailty). We determined the association between frailty category and post-operative Oxford hip/knee score (OHS/OKS) using Tobit regression. We calculated the proportion of patients in each frailty category who achieved the minimally important change (MIC) in OHS (≥8 points) and OKS (≥7 points) and the proportion who reported a successful outcome (hip/knee problems either 'much better' or 'a little better' following surgery)., Results: About 42,512 people who had a hip arthroplasty and 49,208 who had a knee arthroplasty contributed data. In a Tobit model adjusted for pre-operative OHS/OKS, age, sex and quintile of index of multiple deprivation, increasing frailty was associated with decreasing post-operative OHS and OKS, respectively, β-coefficient (95% CI) in severely frail versus fit, -6.97 (-7.44, -6.49) and - 5.88 (-6.28, -5.47). The proportion of people who achieved the MIC in OHS and OKS, respectively, decreased from 92 and 86% among fit individuals to 84 and 78% among those with severe frailty. Patient-reported success following hip and knee arthroplasty, respectively, decreased from 97 and 93% among fit individuals to 90 and 83% among those with severe frailty., Conclusion: frailty adversely impacts on patient-reported outcomes following hip and knee arthroplasty. However, even among those with severe frailty, the large majority achieved the MIC in OHS/OKS and reported a successful outcome., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objectives: To assess the associations of biomarkers in serum [highsensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum cartilage oligomeric protein (sCOMP), serum propeptide of type I procollagen (sPINP) and serum osteocalcin (sOC)] and urine [urinary type II collagen telopeptide (uCTX-2)] with the extent and progression of nocturnal pain, pain while walking, and fatigue in participants with hip and/or knee pain suspected to be early stage osteoarthritis (OA)., Methods: hs-CRP, uCTX-2, sCOMP, sPINP and sOC were measured at baseline in 1,002 participants of the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK). Nocturnal pain, pain while walking and fatigue were assessed by self-reported questionnaires at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Associations between these biomarkers and symptoms were examined using logistic and linear regression analyses., Results: hs-CRP was significantly associated with mild nocturnal pain (OR 1.18 95% CI 1.01-1.37), with mild and moderate pain while walking (OR 1.17 95% CI 1.01-1.35 and OR 1.56 95% CI 1.29-1.90, respectively) and with progression of nocturnal pain (OR 1.25 95% CI 1.07-1.46). uCTX-2 was associated with mild nocturnal pain (OR 1.40 95% CI 1.05-1.85) and with mild and severe-extreme pain while walking (OR 1.35 95% CI 1.04-1.75 and OR 2.55 95% CI 1.03-6.34, respectively). sPINP was associated with severe-extreme nocturnal pain (OR 0.45 95% CI 0.25-0.82). No significant associations were found for sCOMP and sOC, nor for any of the biomarkers and fatigue., Conclusion: This study of biomarkers in a large cohort of participants with hip and/or knee pain suspected to reflect early stage hip and/or knee OA suggests that inflammation and cartilage matrix degeneration play a role in pain, but not in fatigue., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate whether patients with osteoarthritis (OA) are at a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD)., Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. We enrolled 33,360 patients who were 50-64 years old and had OA in 2002-2005 to form the OA group. The comparison group consisted of 33,360 age- and sex-matched, randomly sampled subjects without OA. Then, their PD-free survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was employed to estimate the effect of having OA on patients' subsequent risk of PD., Results: Of the 2 groups, the OA group had a significantly higher risk of developing PD (adjusted hazard ratio [HR adj ] 1.41 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.16-1.70], P = 0.0003). The PD-free survival rate of the OA group was also significantly lower than that of the comparison group (P = 0.0004). The subgroup analysis showed that patients with knee or hip OA appeared to have a higher magnitude of PD risk (HR adj 1.55 [95% CI 1.14-2.11]) than patients with non-knee and non-hip OA (HR adj 1.42 [95% CI 1.06-1.89]) or with uncategorized OA (HR adj 1.32 [95% CI 1.05-1.64])., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that OA is linked to an increased risk of developing PD., (© 2021 American College of Rheumatology.)

Objective: To identify prognostic factors for health outcomes following an 8-week supervised exercise therapy and education program for individuals with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) alone or with concomitant hypertension, heart or respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, or depression., Methods: We included individuals with knee and/or hip OA from the Good Life With OsteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) program. GLA:D consists of 2 patient education sessions and 12 supervised exercise therapy sessions. Before GLA:D, participants self-reported any comorbidities and were categorized into 8 comorbidity groups. Twenty-one potential prognostic factors (demographic information, clinical data, and performance-based physical function) gathered from participants and clinicians before the program were included. Outcomes were physical function using the 40-meter Fast-Paced Walk Test (FPWT), health-related quality of life using the 5-level EuroQol 5-domain (EQ-5D-5L) index score, and pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS; range 0-100) assessed before and immediately after the GLA:D program. Within each comorbidity group, associations of prognostic factors with outcomes were estimated using multivariable linear regression., Results: Data from 35,496 (40-meter FPWT) and 37,576 (EQ-5D-5L and VAS) participants were included in the analyses. Clinically relevant associations were demonstrated between age, self-efficacy, self-rated health, and pain intensity and change in 40-meter FPWT, EQ-5D-5L, or VAS scores across comorbidity groups. Furthermore, anxiety, education, physical function, and smoking were associated with outcomes among subgroups having depression or diabetes mellitus in addition to OA., Conclusion: Age, self-efficacy, self-rated health, and pain intensity may be prognostic of change in health outcomes following an 8-week exercise therapy and patient education program for individuals with OA, irrespective of comorbidities., (© 2021 The Authors. Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Objective: To determine whether an apparent association between hand osteoarthritis (OA) and adiposity is explained by the presence of OA at other joint sites., Methods: Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, first cycle, comprehensive cohort, were used. Respondents age 45-85 years (n = 18,279) were asked separate questions about doctor-diagnosed OA in the hand, hip, or knee. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between all combinations of hand, hip, and knee OA and body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)., Results: OA was reported by 34.6% of respondents, 28.0% with OA at >1 joint site. Hand OA was not significantly associated with BMI after accounting for OA at other joint sites, with similar findings for WHtR. All joint site combinations containing the knee were strongly associated with BMI, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from OR 2.92 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.53-3.37) for knee OA only with obesity class I to OR 9.98 (95% CI 7.12-13.88) for multi-joint knee, hip, hand OA with obesity class II/III. BMI distributions including knee OA were broader and shifted to higher BMI levels than those for hand or hip OA., Conclusion: Apparent associations between hand OA and BMI may be explained by concurrent OA at other joint sites. Recognizing that OA is a multi-joint disease is crucial for studies of the associations of adiposity with OA in a particular joint, especially the hand. The association between knee OA and BMI appears to be distinct from those for OA at other joint sites., (© 2021 American College of Rheumatology.)

Background: Limited information exists comparing the perioperative complications of the different inflammatory arthropathies (IAs) after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Our study was aimed to (1) compare perioperative complications and (2) determine the most common complications between the different IA subtypes compared with patients with primary osteoarthritis (OA) undergoing primary THA and (3) find whether the difference in postoperative complications also exists between different IA after THA., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and primary OA undergoing unilateral THA between 2005 and 2014. Preoperative diagnosis, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were determined using the International Classification of Disease Clinical Modification version 9 codes. The prevalence of perioperative complications was compared between patients with IA and primary OA and between patients with different IA., Results: When compared with patients with primary OA, patients with RA had significantly more postoperative surgical and medical complications. Yet there are just several medical complications differences exist between PA and primary OA or AS and primary OA, including stroke and acute renal failure for psoriatic arthritis and urinary tract infection and pneumonia for AS. What is more, there were also several differences in perioperative medical complications seen in patients with different IA., Conclusion: Except for patients with RA, the differences in perioperative complications was small between patients with IA and primary OA and between patients with different types of IA., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading musculoskeletal disabilities worldwide, and several interventions intend to change the gait pattern in OA patients to more healthy patterns. However, an accessible way to follow up the biomechanical changes in a clinical setting is still missing. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate whether we can use biomechanical data collected from a specific activity of daily living to help distinguish hip OA patients from controls and knee OA patients from controls using features that potentially could be measured in a clinical setting. To achieve this goal, we considered three different classes of statistical models with different levels of data complexity. Class 1 is kinematics based only (clinically applicable), class 2 includes joint kinetics (semi-applicable under the condition of access to a force plate or prediction models), and class 3 uses data from advanced musculoskeletal modeling (not clinically applicable). We used a machine learning pipeline to determine which classification model was best. We found 100% classification accuracy for KneeOA-vs-Asymptomatic and 93.9% for HipOA-vs-Asymptomatic using seven features derived from the lumbar spine and hip kinematics collected during ascending stairs. These results indicate that kinematical data alone can distinguish hip or knee OA patients from asymptomatic controls. However, to enable clinical use, we need to validate if the classifier also works with sensor-based kinematical data and whether the probabilistic outcome of the logistic regression model can be used in the follow-up of patients with OA., (© 2022 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To estimate the risk of developing comorbidities in patients after physician-diagnosed knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA)., Methods: This was a cohort study using Swedish longitudinal health care register data; we studied residents in the Skåne region age ≥35 years on January 1, 2010 who were free from diagnosed hip or knee OA (n = 548,681). We then identified subjects with at least 1 new diagnosis of knee or hip OA (incident OA) between 2010 and 2017 (n = 50,942 considered exposed). Subjects without diagnosed OA were considered unexposed. From January 2010 both unexposed and exposed subjects were observed for the occurrence of 18 different predefined comorbidities until either relocation outside of the region, death, occurrence of the comorbidity, or December 2017, whichever came first. We calculated unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted HRs of comorbidities using Cox models with knee and hip OA as time-varying exposures., Results: Subjects with incident knee or hip OA had 7% to 60% higher adjusted HRs (range 1.07-1.60) of depression, cardiovascular diseases, back pain, and osteoporosis than individuals without an OA diagnosis. An increased risk of diabetes mellitus was found only for knee OA (adjusted HR 1.19 [95% confidence interval 1.13-1.26]). For the rest of the diagnoses, we found either no increased risk or estimates with wide confidence intervals, excluding clear interpretations of the direction or size of effects., Conclusion: Incident physician-diagnosed knee and hip OA is associated with an increased risk of depression, cardiovascular diseases, back pain, osteoporosis, and diabetes mellitus. However, the latter was only found for knee OA., (© 2021 The Authors. Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Introduction: Soaring prevalence of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) inflicts high costs on the healthcare system. A further rise in the OA incidence is expected, generating increased demand of care potentially challenging accessibility and threatening to overwhelm the healthcare system. Innovative solutions that may improve accessibility to recommended OA care for patients in primary care and maintain healthcare sustainability are warranted. Digitalising home exercise therapy may be one such solution. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile health app providing digitalised home exercises, compared with supervised exercise therapy in patients with OA. Second, we will evaluate the cost-efficiency of the intervention and explore potential differences in outcome and adherence to exercises in the experimental treatment group., Methods and Analysis: A two-armed non-inferiority randomised controlled trial will be conducted. In total, 156 patients with hip and/or knee OA will be recruited from physiotherapy clinics in primary care in Norway. Following patient education, patients will be randomised to either 6 weeks of standard treatment (2 weekly sessions of supervised exercise therapy) or experimental treatment (home exercises via the Virtual Training (VT) app). Primary outcome is the proportion of Outcome Measures in Rheumatology-Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OMERACT-OARSI) responders at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes include physical performance, patient-reported outcomes related to pain, fatigue, disease activity, physical function, mental health, health related quality of life, self-efficacy, utilisation of healthcare services and medication, digital competence and use of apps., Ethics and Dissemination: Patients will sign an informed consent form before participating in the trial. Approval has been granted by the Regional Ethics Committee (201105) and Data Protection Officer at Diakonhjemmet Hospital (00221). Patient research partners will contribute in all parts of the study., Trial Registration Number: NCT04767854., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is one of the most common disorders of hips in children. The deformity can remain asymptomatic into adolescence and adulthood; however, it is considered to be a form of prearthritis and is the main cause of premature osteoarthritis of the hip. The deformity affects the acetabulum but can also be accompanied by changes in the shape of the proximal femur. If conservative treatment for mild DDH is insufficient, or in cases of moderate to severe DDH, operative treatment should be carried out, for example by corrective osteotomy of the pelvis and/or the proximal femur and hip arthroscopy may be considered adjunctively in order to resolve the prearthritis and prevent premature osteoarthritis of the hip. This manuscript elucidates the deformity, the diagnostic measures required to make the diagnosis and the treatment options available for prevention of arthritis., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)