DYNAMICS of PAIN ACCORDING to the VAS SCALE, FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY ACCORDING to the WOMAC INDEX and QUALITY of LIFE ACCORDING to the EQ-5D QUESTIONNAIRE in ELDERLY and SENILE PATIENTS with KNEE JOINT OSTEOARTHRITIS after COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate the dynamics of pain on the VAS scale, functional activity according to the WOMAC index and quality of life according to the EQ-5D questionnaire in elderly and senile patients with knee joint osteoarthritis (OA) after COVID-19. Methods: A total of 32 elderly and senile male patients with an established diagnosis of knee joint OA (according to the criteria of ACR, 1986) of stage II-III according to Kellgren-Lawrence, with pain ≥40 mm on a visual analog scale (VAS), who needed to take nonsteroidal anti-infammatory drugs (NSAIDs), were included in the study. The median age of the patients included in this study was 72.6 (66.0;79.3) years. All patients have been ill with COVID-19 for the last 6 months. Pain dynamics was assessed on the VAS scale, functional activity-on the WOMAC index, quality of life-on the EQ-5D questionnaire. Results: When analyzing the clinical picture, it was found that the majority of patients-22 people (68.8%)-had moderate COVID-19, 4 people (12.5%)-in mild form, 6 patients (18.7%)-in severe. The average duration of hospitalization was 14.0 (9.0;17.0) days. The majority of patients were discharged with recovery-30 people (93.75%), 2 people died (6.25%). The most frequent manifestations of postcovid syndrome in elderly and senile patients with OA weakness-in 18 (56.2%) patients, arthralgia-in 17 (53.1%) and memory loss-in 14 (43.8%). There was a signifcant increase in the pain index on the VAS scale and the total WOMAC index after COVID-19. Pain on the VAS scale before COVID-19 was 45.9 (34.8;72.4), after the disease-60.9 (51.4;68.5) (p<0.001);the total WOMAC index was 46.3 (38.5;51.2) and 63.1 (48.9;76.2), respectively (p=0.007). There were no differences in the need for NSAIDs before and after the disease. When flling out the EQ-5D questionnaire, all the interviewed patients indicated health problems to one degree or another. When calculating the quantitative index after COVID-19, there was a deterioration in the health index, but the changes were unreliable. The 'health thermometer' also changed in a similar way. Conclusion: COVID-19 in elderly and senile patients with OA occurred in a variant of moderate severity in 22 (68.8%), severe-in 6 (18.7%), mild-in 4 (12.5%). The most frequent manifestations of postcovid syndrome in elderly and senile patients with OA weakness, arthralgia and memory loss. Negative dynamics of indicators of functional activity according to the WOMAC index and pain on the scale VAS after COVID-19 was registered.