The Association between Health-related Quality of Life and Depression on Activity Restriction in Osteoarthritis: A Cross-sectional Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide basic evidence on the need to approach osteoarthritis patients through a psychological factors-considering rehabilitation program by understanding how activity restrictions in osteoarthritis affect health-related quality of life and depression. Methods: This study assessed 3,761 osteoarthritis patients from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were divided into two categories: with and without activity restriction. Results: The prevalence of osteoarthritis in women was higher than that of men (men: 19.7%; women: 80.3%), and high BMI increased the prevalence of osteoarthritis. The EQ-5D index of subjects with activity restriction was 0.84±0.18 (points), while in those without activity restriction was 0.93±0.12, and the diagnosis of depression was 15.8%, 8.2%. There was a statistically significant difference in the odds ratio for each item in the EQ-5D. Moreover, the odds ratio for depression with activity restriction was 2.098 compared with no activity restriction. Conclusion: Activity restriction of osteoarthritis patients significantly decreases the health-related quality of life and increase the probability of depression. Therefore, early diagnosis of depression symptoms to prevent deterioration of symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis and to increase compliance with rehabilitation treatment, and to provide arbitration, including treatment that can alleviate depression.