AB0756 Living with Osteoarthritis: Real Life Perception upon Pain and Function

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition for which treatments are based on analgesia and physical therapies. Despite that, most of the patients continue to have pain and limited function influencing there day by day life. Objectives Our objective was to evaluate pain perception in a cohort of participants, diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Methods 75 patients with osteoarthritis were enrolled in this study, conducted in Sf. Maria Hospital between 1 June and 30 December 2015. All patients signed an informed consent approved by local ethic committee. Data about demographics, joint involvement and treatment were collected. All patients completed a HAQ evaluation and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain (0–10). We developed a questionnaire in order to capture patient perception about osteoarthritis symptoms and how this disease impact there life. They were asked about how pain interfere with usual activity (work, preparing meal, house kipping), with social activity (family interaction, friends) or how they perceived pain or efficacy of the treatment in the last month. They were also asked about there expectations related to this disease. Statistical analysis was made with SPSS. Results Mean age at evaluation was 63 with a female predominance (83%). 89.3% were taking NSAIDs and 73.3% acetaminophen. Functional status evaluated by HAQ showed that 24% patients had a score of 0, with 57% having a score of 1 and 19% a score of 2. VAS for pain was at least 5 for more than 80% of patients, despite treatment. Higher VAS was significant more frequent in female patients (p 0.001), in patients with family history of osteoarthritis (p 0.023) and in the one with sedentary life style (p 0.035). Most of the patients considered that pain interfere with daily activity, the impact being evaluated as moderate for 46.67% of patients and severe for 32%. Pain also had a negative impact on their social life, the percentage for moderate disturbance being of 38.67% and 18.67% for severe one. Only 11% of patients consider that the pain control is well managed. Despite these results, 40% of the patients do not expect that there quality of life will improve in the future. Conclusions Residual pain after treatment is present in most of the patients with osteoarthritis and these interfere significantly with daily living and quality of life. These patients enter in a vicious cycle related to worsening pain – low physical activity. Although this findings, there is a resumption of these patients in front of the disease. References Neogi T, The epidemiology and impact of pain in osteoarthritis, Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 2013, 21: 1145–1153. Disclosure of Interest None declared