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Do comorbidities predict pain and function in knee osteoarthritis following an exercise intervention, and do they moderate the effect of exercise? Analyses of data from three randomized controlled trials.

Legha, Amardeep; Burke, Danielle L.; Foster, Nadine E.; Van Der Windt, Danielle A.; Quicke, Jonathan G.; Healey, Emma L.; Runhaar, Jos; Holden, Melanie A.

Do comorbidities predict pain and function in knee osteoarthritis following an exercise intervention, and do they moderate the effect of exercise? Analyses of data from three randomized controlled trials. Thumbnail


Authors

Amardeep Legha

Danielle L. Burke

Nadine E. Foster

Jonathan G. Quicke

Jos Runhaar



Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although exercise is a core treatment for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), it is currently unknown whether those with additional comorbidities respond differently to exercise than those without. We explored whether comorbidities predict pain and function following an exercise intervention in people with knee OA, and whether they moderate response to: exercise versus no exercise; and enhanced exercise versus usual exercise-based care. METHODS: We undertook analyses of existing data from three randomized controlled trials (RCTs): TOPIK (n = 217), APEX (n = 352) and Benefits of Effective Exercise for knee Pain (BEEP) (n = 514). All three RCTs included: adults with knee pain attributable to OA; physiotherapy-led exercise; data on six comorbidities (overweight/obesity, pain elsewhere, anxiety/depression, cardiac problems, diabetes mellitus and respiratory conditions); the outcomes of interest (six-month Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index knee pain and function). Adjusted mixed models were fitted where data was available; otherwise linear regression models were used. RESULTS: Obesity compared with underweight/normal body mass index was significantly associated with knee pain following exercise, as was the presence compared with absence of anxiety/depression. The presence of cardiac problems was significantly associated with the effect of enhanced versus usual exercise-based care for knee function, indicating that enhanced exercise may be less effective for improving knee function in people with cardiac problems. Associations for all other potential prognostic factors and moderators were weak and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and anxiety/depression predicted pain and function outcomes in people offered an exercise intervention, but only the presence of cardiac problems might moderate the effect of exercise for knee OA. Further confirmatory investigations are required.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 27, 2019
Online Publication Date Dec 14, 2019
Publication Date 2020-03
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Musculoskeletal Care
Print ISSN 1478-2189
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Issue 1
Pages 3-11
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1425
Keywords comorbidity; exercise; osteoarthritis
Publisher URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/msc.1425
PMID 31837126

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