Title : Prevalence of ankle osteoarthritis and factors affecting foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS) in community indwelling elderly people aged ? 65 years in South Korea
Abstract:
Backgrounds: There have been few community based studies on ankle osteoarthritis (OA) and pain. This study was to investigate the prevalence of ankle OA and health related quality of life related to ankle pain in community indwelling elderly people in South Korea.
Methods: 675 people aged ≥ 65 years were randomly recruited from Seongnam city by Gallup Korea (public opinion polling agency). Of these, 664 people (189 men and 475 women; mean age 74.6 years and SD 5.4 years) were finally included in the data analysis. The subjects underwent blood test, weightbearing ankle AP X rays, and foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS) questionnaire (consisting of 5 domains: symptom, pain, activity of daily living (ADL), sports, and quality of life (QoL)). Demographic data including height, weight and BMI were also collected. Radiographic grades of osteoarthritis were evaluated on the basis of Takakura classification.
Results: The prevalence of radiographic ankle OA was 26.4% in the community indwelling elderly population. Although men and women were not significantly different in radiographic grades of OA, women reported significantly greater pain VAS [3.1 (SD 2.9) vs 1.9 (SD 2.4), p<0.001], deteriorated symptom domain [81.3 (SD 19.7) vs 87.0 (SD 14.8), p<0.001], pain domain [82.1 (SD 21.1) vs 88.2 (SD 16.0), p<0.001], ADL [82.1 (SD 20.2) vs 89.4 (SD 14.9), p<0.001], sports domain [64.2 (SD 30.4) vs 76.7 (SD 24.8), p<0.001], and QoL domain [73.5 (SD 26.8) vs 83.0 (SD 22.2), p<0.001]. In multiple regression analysis, age was adversely associated with ADL (p=0.003) and sports (p<0.001) domains, and BMI showed significant adverse association with symptom (p=0.009), pain (p=0.008), ADL (p=0.001), and sports (p<0.001) domains. Takakura stage was significantly associated with symptom (p<0.001), pain (p<0.001), sports (p=0.001) and QoL (p<0.001) domains. The subjects with radiographic ankle OA showed higher pain VAS (p=0.018), more deteriorated QoL (p=0.011) and sports domains than those without radiographic ankle OA while symptom and ADL domains were not different beween the two groups.
Conclusions: The prevalence of radiographic ankle OA among the elderly population was higher than that reported previously in general population. BMI was found to be an important modifiable factor that adversely affected FAOS. This information could be used for assigning the medical resources to ankle OA as well as communicating with the patients with ankle OA.
What will audience learn from your presentation?
Healthcare Professionals: Physicians and physical therapists can use this data in diagnosing and planning treatment for ankle osteoarthritis. Emphasizing preventive approaches such as weight management can help improve patients' quality of life.
Researchers: This study can serve as a foundation for further research on ankle osteoarthritis, helping researchers develop new study topics in this field.
Designers and Engineers: Professionals involved in designing orthotics or footwear can leverage this data to develop products that alleviate ankle issues for elderly users.
Educators: Instructors in health and medical-related fields can use these study findings as educational material to teach students about the importance of ankle osteoarthritis and ways to manage it.
