Factors influencing quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis: analyses from the BISCUITS study

Patricia Schepman; Rebecca Robinson; Karin Hygge Blakeman; Stefan Wilhelm; Craig Beck; Sara Hallberg; Johan Liseth-Hansen; Anna De Geer; Ola Rolfson; Lars Arendt-Nielsen

doi:10.1515/sjpain-2021-0213

Factors influencing quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis: analyses from the BISCUITS study

Scand J Pain. 2022 Jul 6;23(1):139-148. doi: 10.1515/sjpain-2021-0213. Print 2023 Jan 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA.
² Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, IN, USA.
³ Pfizer Innovations, Sollentuna, Sweden.
⁴ Eli Lilly International Medical Affairs, Bad Homburg, Germany.
⁵ Pfizer Ltd, Tadworth, UK.
⁶ Quantify Research, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁷ University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁸ Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
⁹ Department of Medical Gastroenterology (Mech-Sense), Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.

PMID: 35787832
DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2021-0213

Abstract

Objectives: Osteoarthritis can have a profound effect on patients' quality of life. The Burden of Disease and Management of Osteoarthritis and Chronic Low Back Pain: Health Care Utilization and Sick Leave in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark (BISCUITS) study aimed to describe the impact of osteoarthritis on quality of life and determine the association with factors such as pain severity and pharmacological treatment.

Methods: An observational study was performed with a cross-sectional design including patients with a confirmed osteoarthritis diagnosis enrolled in the National Quality Register for Better management of patients with Osteoarthritis (BOA) between 2016 and 2017 in Sweden. Patient-reported information from BOA was linked to administrative data from three national health registers. The impact of osteoarthritis on quality of life was estimated using the EQ-5D-5L and the first developed experienced-based time-trade-off value set for Sweden to calculate the EQ-5D-5L index scores. EQ-5D-3L index scores were also estimated based on a UK hypothetical value set via a crosswalk method. Ordinary least squares regression models were used to analyse the association between quality of life and potential influencing factors.

Results: For the 34,254 patients evaluated, mean EQ-5D-5L index score was 0.792 (SD 0.126). Stratifications showed that the index score varied across different levels of pain severity. Increased pain severity and use of pain-relieving medications remained significantly associated with a lower quality of life index score when controlled for potential confounders. The mean EQ-5D-3L index score was 0.605 (SD 0.192).

Conclusions: This large population-based study from Sweden highlights the substantial impact of osteoarthritis on quality of life amongst different patient groups and that currently available treatment options for osteoarthritis pain do not appropriately address the needs for many osteoarthritis patients.

Keywords: EQ-5D-5L; cohort study; observational data; osteoarthritis; pain severity; real-world data.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Osteoarthritis*
Pain
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires