Measurement properties of performance-based outcome measures to assess physical function in young and middle-aged people known to be at high risk of hip and/or knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review

Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2014 Jan;22(1):26-39. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2013.10.021. Epub 2013 Nov 9.

Abstract

Objectives: To systematically appraise the evidence on measurement properties of performance-based outcome measures to assess physical function in young and middle-aged people known to be at high risk of hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Electronic searches were performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and SPORTDiscus in May 2013. Two reviewers independently rated the measurement properties using the 4-point COSMIN checklist. Best evidence synthesis was made using COSMIN quality, consistency and direction of findings and sample size.

Results: Twenty of 2736 papers were eligible for inclusion and 24 different performance-based outcome measures knee or obese populations were evaluated. No tests related to hip populations were included. Twenty-five measurement properties including reliability (nine studies), construct validity (hypothesis testing) (nine studies), measurement error (three studies), structural validity (two studies), interpretability (one study) and responsiveness (one study) were evaluated. A positive rating was given to 12.5% (30/240) of all possible measurement ratings. Tests were grouped into two categories based on the population characteristics. The one-legged hop for distance, followed by the 6-m timed hop and cross over hop for distance were the best-rated tests for the knee-injured population. Whereas the 6-min walk test was the only included test for the obese population.

Conclusion: This review highlights the many gaps in knowledge about the measurement properties of performance-based outcome measures for young and middle-aged people known to be at high risk of hip and/or knee OA. There is a need for consensus on which outcome measures should be used and/or combined when assessing physical function in this population. Further good quality research is required.

Keywords: Knee-injury; Measurement properties; Obesity; Performance-based outcome measures; Physical function; Systematic review.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Exercise Test / methods*
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / complications
  • Knee Injuries / physiopathology
  • Motor Activity
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / etiology
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / physiopathology*
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / etiology
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / physiopathology*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods