Self-management of osteoarthritis while waiting for total knee arthroplasty during the COVID-19 pandemic among older Malaysians

Table 1 Participants’ characteristic (n = 50)

Characteristics	n (%)
Age, yr, mean ± SD	68.7 ± 6.97
Gender
Male	10 (20)
Female	40 (80)
Ethnicity
Malay	33 (66)
Chinese	11 (22)
Indian	5 (10)
Others	1 (2)
Marital status
Single	1 (2)
Married	43 (86)
Divorce	6 (12)
Living arrangement
Alone	2 (4)
With husband/wife	47 (94)
Others	1 (2)
Education level
Unschooled	3 (6)
Primary school	10 (20)
Secondary school	22 (44)
College/university	15 (30)
Occupation
Unemployed	3 (6)
Retired	43 (86)
Retired but still working	2 (4)
Working	2 (4)
Comorbidities
Diabetes	20 (40)
Hypertension	35 (70)
Heart disease	6 (12)
High cholesterol	22 (44)
Parkinsonism	1 (2)
Stroke	1 (2)
Visual problem	1 (2)
Asthma	3 (6)
Thyroid	3 (6)
Rheumatoid arthritis	4 (8)
Spine problem	3 (6)
Gastritis	1 (2)
Vertigo	2 (4)
Skin problem	1 (2)
Cancer	1 (2)
Duration of OA
Less than 1 yr	21 (42)
Between 1-2 yr	21 (42)
More than 3 yr	8 (16)

OA: Osteoarthritis.

Table 2 Self-management, comorbidities, pain severity, physical function, and physical frailty

	n (%)
Self-management
Takes medication for osteoarthritis pain control	46 (92)
Takes traditional supplement	5 (10)
Ointment	4 (8)
Herbs (Nigella Sativa sp)	1 (2)
Exercise	34 (68)
Exercise duration
10 min/d	1 (2)
15 min/d	1 (2)
20 min/d	7 (14)
30 min/d	25 (40)
Osteoarthritis severity
VAS, median (range)	7 (6.0-8.0)
KOOS pain, median (range)	14 (9.75-19.25)
KOOS symptoms, median (range)	11 (9-12)
KOOS function, median (range)	19.5 (14-30)
KOOS quality of life, median (range)	9 (8-10.25)
Physical function, components of LAWTON
Ability use phone	50 (100)
Shopping	16 (32)
Transport	41 (82)
Medication	46 (92)
Handling finances	42 (84)
Food prep	31 (62)
Laundry	39 (78)
Housekeeping	44 (88)
Physical frailty, components of SARC-F
Strength	15 (30)
Assist in walking	10 (20)
Rise from chair	12 (24)
Climb stair	2 (4)
Falls	40 (80)
Physically frail (SARC-F > 4)	36 (72)

VAS: Visual analog scale; KOOS: Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; SARC-F: Strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls questionnaire.

Table 3 Associations between waiting time and pain with physical function and frailty

	Physical function, poor IADL (Lawton < 6)	Physical frailty (SARC-F > 4)
Waiting time
Unadjusted OR (95%CI)	0.96 (0.81-1.13)	1.09 (0.92-1.28)
Adjusted model 1 OR (95%CI)	0.96 (0.81-1.13)	1.09 (0.92-1.30)
Adjusted model 2 OR (95%CI)	0.98 (0.82-1.17)	1.07 (0.89-1.28)
Adjusted model 3 OR (95%CI)	0.96 (0.81-1.13)	1.09 (0.92-1.30)
Pain severity
Unadjusted OR (95%CI)	1.14 (0.83-1.57)	1.46 (1.04-2.05)a
Adjusted model 1 OR (95%CI)	1.14 (0.82-1.57)	1.45 (1.04-2.03)a
Adjusted model 2 OR (95%CI)	1.20 (0.86-1.66)	1.43 (1.00-2.03)a
Adjusted model 3 OR (95%CI)	1.15 (0.83-1.60)	1.45 (1.03-2.05)a

^aP < 0.05.

Adjusted model 1: Adjusted for age. Adjusted model 2: Adjusted for management (medication). Adjusted model 3: Adjusted for management (exercise). OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; IADL: Instrumental activities of daily living; SARC-F: Strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls questionnaire.