MEDICAL INSIDER
DR CORA LIM-FOR EDITING
FOR JUNE 25, 2023
Correlation between Family APGAR scores
and health-related quality of life of Filipino
elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis
(Part 2)
In Part 1 of the presentation of this article, we
described the clinical profile of Filipino patients
with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and correlated their
health-related quality of life (HrQoL) with perceived
family support.
As an introduction, we said that Osteoarthritis (OA)
is the most common joint disease in adults. We
also said that in the Philippines, prevalence
studies noted OA in 2.6-4.1% in individuals 20
years of age and older, in both urban and rural
Philippines.
Moreover, we wrote that several studies have
explored the effect of family support on chronic
pain,” quality of life (Qol.) of cancer patients and
perceived family support was important in the
rehabilitation of chronic pain patients.
This time we will discuss QOL Measures and
measures of family function. What is QOL? The
Center for Disease Control (US) defines Qol.
broadly as a multi-dimentional concept that usually
includes subjective evaluations of both positive
and negative aspects of life. In the 1980s, studies
showed the concept of health-related Qol. (HrQol)
was defined to include those aspects of overall Qol
that can be clearly shown to affect health either
physical or mental.
HrQol assessment allows a subject to express his
or her ability and feelings regarding the
performance of daily activities across many
domains, including physical, social and cognitive
functioning, role activities and emotional well-being
Various tools that measure family relationships
and the patient include the Family APGAR
(Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection and
Resolve) assessment, which was initially used as
a measure of family function and its influence on
internal caregivers.
In a study about this, a description was given
about the clinical profile relationship of HrQol, and
family function of patients with OA of the knees
seen at the Philippine General Hospital. It was
found out that the higher the Family APCAR
scores (good family function), the lower the
WOMAC scores (reflecting better Qol.)
On this basis, the study shows that it can be
recommended that management of knee OA in the
center and in similar socio-cultural settings, should
include biopsychosocial elements such as
assessing family functional status and extending
education interventions to both patients and family
members in order to promote satisfaction and help
improve symptoms.