The relationship between functional disability and health-related quality of life in patients with a rotator cuff tear

Disabil Rehabil. 2012;34(24):2071-5. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2012.670363. Epub 2012 Apr 12.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the relationship between functional disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in rotator cuff tear (RCT) patients.

Method: In 67 RCT patients (mean age, 54 years; 57% males), functional disability was self-reported with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), HRQoL with the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and pain by visual analogue scale. ASES results were divided into tertiles (12-38, 39-51, and 52-82).

Results: Mean ASES score was 48 (range, 12-82). Patients with the highest functional disability and highest pain level had the lowest HRQoL. For the highest, middle, and lowest ASES categories, respectively, mean SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores were 35 SD 5, 36 SD 8, and 41 SD 6 (p< 0.001) (r = 0.47 for ASES vs. PCS; p< 0.001), and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were 50 SD 13, 56 SD 10, and 58 SD 8 (p = 0.011) (r = 0.37 for ASES vs. MCS; p= 0.003).

Conclusions: Patients with higher functional disability had lower HRQoL. RCT extensively affects patients' lives; therefore, capturing both generic and shoulder-specific measures of RCT problems is recommended.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthrography
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Joint Diseases / epidemiology
  • Joint Diseases / physiopathology
  • Joint Diseases / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Measurement
  • Patients / psychology*
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Recovery of Function
  • Rotator Cuff / physiopathology
  • Rotator Cuff / surgery
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries*
  • Rupture
  • Shoulder Joint / physiopathology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome