Quality of life of men and women with osteoarthritis of the hip and arthroplasty: assessment by WOMAC questionnaire.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in quality of life between men and women in preoperative and postoperative period after hip arthroplasty because of severe hip osteoarthritis. This is a prospective study of 160 patients (average age, 61.7 yrs), 92 women and 68 men, with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the hip who underwent total hip arthroplasty. All patients completed the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaires that measured health-related quality of life preoperatively, at discharge, and 6-wk postoperatively. To establish the occurrence of differences between men and women in preoperative and postoperative period after arthroplasty, Student's t test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used. The WOMAC global score was a significant predictor (the better the rather men) preoperatively (P < 0.01) and 6 wks after total hip arthroplasty (P < 0.001). Global WOMAC score was significantly better in men than in women preoperatively (t = 4.02; P < 0.001) and 6 wks after arthroplasty (t = 3.42; P < 0.001). These results suggest that men with severe osteoarthritis of the hip have better quality of life than do women preoperatively and 6 wks after hip arthroplasty. These findings would be important for improving quality of care of our patients.