Impact of pain sensitisation on the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis

Natalie Min-Yi Aw, Seng-Jin Yeo, Vikki Wylde, Steven B Wong, Diana Chan, Julian Thumboo, Ying Ying Leung, Natalie Min-Yi Aw, Seng-Jin Yeo, Vikki Wylde, Steven B Wong, Diana Chan, Julian Thumboo, Ying Ying Leung

Abstract

Objectives: We aim to evaluate the effect on different ways of classifying pain sensitisation on impact and quality of life (QoL) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: We used baseline data from a cohort of consecutive patients with KOA listed for arthroplasty. We collected demographics and number of painful body sites. We measured pressure pain thresholds at the right forearm (PPTarm). Pain sensitisation was classified using: (1) widespread pain, (2) lowest 10th percentile of PPTarm and (3) PainDETECT questionnaire ≥13/38. Impact and QoL were assessed using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Short Form-36. Impact and QoL scores in patients with or without pain sensitisation were compared. We evaluated the association of pain sensitisation measures with QoL scores using multivariable regression.

Results: 233 patients (80% female, mean age 66 years) included in the analysis; 7.3%, 11.6% and 4.7% were classified as having pain sensitisation by widespread pain, low PPTarm and PainDETECT criteria, respectively. There was minimal overlap of patients as classified as pain sensitisation phenotype by different measures. Patients with pain sensitisation had poorer QoL compared with those without. Low PPTarm identified patients with poorer general health, while widespread pain and PainDETECT identified poorer QoL in more psychological domains. There was weak correlation between number of painful body sites and PainDETECT (rho=0.23, p<0.01), but no significant correlation with PPTarm.

Conclusion: Patients with KOA with pain sensitisation have poorer QoL compared with those without, regardless of classification method. Different criteria defined patients with different pattern of QoL impact.

Keywords: health services research; osteoarthritis, knee; outcome assessment, health care.

Conflict of interest statement

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.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Venn diagram showing the number of patients with pain sensitisation as classified by three criteria sets. PPT, pressure pain threshold.

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