Osteoarthritis can impact on every aspect of life, including an individual's ability to be independent, their social life, relationships and emotional wellbeing [1].
According to the 2007–08 National Health Survey, people with osteoarthritis are less likely to perceive their health as excellent, very good or good than people without the condition. About 27% of people with osteoarthritis rated their health as fair or poor compared to 13% of those without osteoarthritis.
The limitations imposed by osteoarthritis can be detrimental to a person's self-esteem and self-image and can lead to negative emotional states, anxiety, depression and feelings of helplessness [2].
People with osteoarthritis were 1.8 times as likely to report very high levels of psychological distress than those without the condition according to the 2007–08 NHS.
Joint pain is one of the major symptoms of osteoarthritis. It is initially felt during and after activity, but as the disease progresses it may occur with minimal movement or even during rest.
People with osteoarthritis were 1.4 times as likely to report pain compared with those without the condition according to the 2007–08 NHS. Of the 91% of people with osteoarthritis reporting pain, almost half experienced moderate pain, with one-quarter reporting severe or very severe pain.
Source tables
Table 1: Self-assessed health in people (a) with and without osteoarthritis, 2007–08
| Self-rated health status |
With osteoarthritis
Number |
With osteoarthritis
Per cent (b) |
Without osteoarthritis
Number |
Without osteoarthritis
Per cent (b) |
Rate ratio (c) |
| Excellent |
119,477 |
6.7 |
3,253,868 |
21.7 |
0.3 |
| Very good |
419,047 |
27.7 |
5,476,540 |
36.5 |
0.7 |
| Good |
520,126 |
38.6 |
4,302,674 |
28.7 |
1.3 |
| Fair |
360,183 |
18.8 |
1,463,243 |
9.8 |
1.9 |
| Poor |
194,166 |
8.2 |
491,286 |
3.3 |
2.5 |
a. Ages 15 and over only.
b. Age standardised to the Australian population as at June 2001.
c. Ratio of 'with osteoarthritis' rate to 'without osteoarthritis' rate.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007–08.
Table 2: Psychological distress in people (a) with and without osteoarthritis, 2007–08
| Level of distress (b) |
With osteoarthritis
Number |
With osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Without osteoarthritis
Number |
Without osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Rate ratio (c) |
| Low |
948,754 |
59.3 |
9,649,026 |
68.2 |
0.9* |
| Moderate |
356,852 |
22.3 |
2,893,845 |
20.5 |
1.1* |
| High |
200,483 |
12.5 |
1,139,855 |
8.1 |
1.5* |
| Very high |
95,102 |
5.9 |
456,286 |
3.2 |
1.8* |
| Total |
1,601,191 |
100.0 |
14,139,012 |
100.0 |
|
* Statistically significant.
a. Ages 18 and over only.
b. Psychological distress is measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, which involves ten questions about negative emotional states experienced in the previous 4 weeks. The scores are grouped into low (indicating little or no psychological distress), high and very high (indicating very high levels of psychological distress).
c. Ratio of 'with osteoarthritis' rate to 'without osteoarthritis' rate.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007–08.
Table 3: Pain experienced by people (a) with and without osteoarthritis, 2007–08
| Level of bodily pain (b) |
With osteoarthritis
Number |
With osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Without osteoarthritis
Number |
Without osteoarthritis
Per cent |
Rate ratio (c) |
| Has bodily pain |
1,470,725 |
91.2 |
9,624,870 |
64.2 |
1.4* |
| Very mild/mild |
490,960 |
33.4 |
5,932,849 |
61.6 |
0.5 |
| Moderate |
601,543 |
40.9 |
2,508,821 |
26.1 |
1.6* |
| Severe/very severe |
378,222 |
25.7 |
1,183,200 |
12.3 |
2.1* |
| No bodily pain |
142,274 |
8.8 |
5,362,741 |
35.8 |
0.2 |
| Total |
1,612,999 |
100.0 |
14,987,611 |
100.0 |
|
* Statistically significant.
a. Ages 15 and over only.
b. Bodily pain experienced in the 4 weeks prior to interview.
c. Ratio of 'with osteoarthritis' rate to 'without osteoarthritis' rate.
Source: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey, 2007–08.
References
- Picavet HS & Hoeymans N 2004. Health related quality of life in multiple musculoskeletal diseases: SF-36 and EQ-SD in the DMC3 study. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 63:723-729.
Woo J, Lau E, Lee P, Kwok T, Lau WC, Chan C et al. 2004. Impact of osteoarthritis on quality of life in a Hong Kong Chinese population. Journal of Rheumatology 31:2433-2438.
- Sheehy C, Murphy E & Barry M 2006. Depression in arthritis - underscoring the problem. Rheumatology (Oxford) 45:1325-1327.