Kimie Fujita

Validity and responsiveness of the Oxford hip score in a prospective study with Japanese total hip arthroplasty patients

BackgroundWith the increasing need for disease-specific health outcome measurements, the Oxford hip score was developed to measure health-related quality of life of total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients in the United Kingdom. The Oxford hip score comprises 12 items pertaining to pain and physical function, which are increasingly used to measure health outcomes of patients who have undergone THA. The purpose of this study was to establish the validity and responsiveness of the Oxford hip score in a prospective study of Japanese patients.MethodsThe study was conducted at two hospitals. The eligibility criterion for the study was consenting adult patients who underwent primary unilateral THA between April 2005 and October 2007. Three scales were self-administered at the preoperative stage and 6 months after THA. These scales were the Oxford hip score, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) version 2, and three activities requiring deep flexion of the hip (i.e., clipping one’s toenails; use of a Japanese squat toilet; “seiza” — sitting on one’s legs on the floor, a common posture while eating in Japan.ResultsA total of 224 consenting adult patients were recruited. Among them, 125 (61.9%) participated in pre- and postoperative surveys. Altogether, 108 (22 men, 86 women; mean age, 58.4 ± 12.5 years) of the 125 patients answered all the items. A significant improvement in the mean scores was observed in all scales. Correlation coefficients between the Oxford hip score and the SF-36 version 2 (physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain) ranged from 0.60 to 0.76 preoperatively and postoperatively. Effect size was 1.7 for pain and 1.3 for physical function. The effect size for seiza was small (0.3).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the validity and responsiveness of the Oxford hip score in a prospective study. However, it does not measure activities requiring deep flexion of the hip joint, and the use of additional items is suggested.

Changes in the WOMAC, EuroQol and Japanese lifestyle measurements among patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty

OBJECTIVE To assess changes in the health outcomes of Japanese patients before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA), and to assess the impact of THA on commonly performed postures or body positions requiring deep flexion of the hip joint such as the use of Japanese squat toilets. METHODS Consecutive patients undergoing primary THA between July 2003 and July 2004 were eligible for the study. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) were administered at the preoperative period and two postoperative periods of 6 weeks and 6 months. The patients were also asked to rate three items regarding common activities of daily living in Japan such as squatting. Changes in scores were examined using effect size and proportion at the floor and ceiling. RESULTS Four-hundred and fifty-one patients completed both pre- and post-THA surveys. Significant improvements in pain and physical function as measured by WOMAC and EQ-5D were evident within 6 weeks. Changes in WOMAC and EQ-5D subscale scores and scores for each item from the three time periods were highly significant (P=0.000). The effect size was 1.56 for WOMAC pain and 1.38 for physical function at 6 months. In contrast, two items (Japanese toilet and seiza) became significantly worse at the 6-week postoperative period (P=0.000) and returned to preoperative levels by the 6-month postoperative period. CONCLUSION These results highlight the importance of evaluating culturally sensitive physical functions in addition to conventional measurements for the health outcomes of THA patients.

Changes in sleep–wake rhythms, subjective sleep quality and pain among patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty

We evaluated nocturnal sleep-wake rhythms and subjective sleep quality on the first postoperative night compared with the preoperative night in 34 patients who had total hip arthroplasty (mean age: 61.9 years; 82.4% female) under spinal anaesthesia. We also examined secondary factors related to sleep disturbances after surgery. Patients wore an accelerometer (actigraph) during the preoperative period and the first postoperative night to track sleep-wake rhythms. Secondary end-points were postsurgical pain and low back pain. Sleep parameters were measured objectively by actigraphy, and subjective sleep quality was measured by the Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi Sleep Inventory, Middle-Aged and Aged Version and found to worsen significantly after surgery. Actigram data showed a reduction in actual sleep time from 353.7 ± 121.2 min preoperatively to 263.8 ± 104.4 min postoperatively. The data indicate that normalized continuous sleep time is important for patient healing and well-being and that postoperative sleep disturbance is related to low back pain more than to postsurgical pain.

Three-year follow-up study of health related QOL and lifestyle indicators for Japanese patients after total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND In non-Western countries including Japan, activities requiring deep flexion of the hip joint, such as seiza (kneeling with calves tucked under the thighs and buttocks resting on the heels) and using squat toilets are commonly practiced. The purpose of this study was to assess longitudinal changes in traditional health-related quality of life measures and measures of physical functions associated with lifestyle for Japanese patients pre-surgery and after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS Consecutive primary total hip arthroplasty patients between July 2003 and November 2006 were eligible. Patients were measured preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 1 year and 3 years postoperatively. Patients completed the EuroQol 5D, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and items related to Japanese lifestyle activities such as squatting. Changes in these scale scores across the four time points were tested, and we examined predictive factors of EuroQol 5D score at 3-year follow-up using multiple linear regression. RESULTS Of 1103 eligible patients, 576 completed questionnaires at all four time points. By 6 weeks post-surgery, reductions in pain and improvements in physical function and stiffness became highly significant, and improvements continued to 3 years postoperative. In contrast, improvements were far more limited for items related to Japanese lifestyle functions such as seiza and use of a Japanese squat toilet, even 3 years after surgery. Predictive factors of EQ5D at 3-year post THA were WOMAC pain and physical function, seiza, age and comorbidity measured at 3-year post THA. CONCLUSION The rate of improvement in QOL requiring deep flexion of the hip joint was much slower than that in QOL related to Western lifestyle. Our study suggests a need for lifestyle modification for THA patients in the other countries where kneeling and squatting are commonly performed.

Lifestyle and health-related quality of life in Asian patients with total hip arthroplasties

Total hip arthroplasty reduces pain and restores physical function in patients with hip joint problems. This study examined lifestyle and health-related quality of life before and after total hip arthroplasty in Japanese and Chinese patients. Two hospitals in China recruited 120 patients and 120 Japanese patients matched by age and operative status were drawn from a prospective cohort database. Oxford Hip Score, EuroQol, and characteristics of Asian lifestyle and attitudes toward the operation were assessed. There were no differences between patients from the two countries in quality-of-life-scale scores: postoperative patients had significantly better quality-of-life scores than preoperative patients in both countries. In China, patients who reported that living at home was inconvenient had significantly worse Oxford Hip Scores than those who did not. Mean scores for anxiety items concerning possible dislocation and durability of the implant were significantly higher in Japanese than in Chinese subjects. Our findings suggest that providing information about housing conditions and lifestyles would result in improved quality of life and reduced anxiety in patients with implanted joints.

Validation of the Chinese (Mandarin) Version of the Oxford Knee Score in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

BackgroundWith the increasing number of patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKAs in China, there is a clear need for a valid, short, joint-specific patient-reported outcome measure such as the Oxford Knee Score (OKS).Questions/purposesTo test the translated and cross-culturally adapted Chinese (Mandarin) version of the Oxford Knee Score (OKS-CV) and its (1) reliability, (2) construct validity, (3) dimensionality, and (4) responsiveness.MethodsThree native Chinese bilingual translators (a professional English translator, an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, an advanced-practice nursing specialist) translated the English-language OKS into Mandarin Chinese. A consensus panel created a synthesis of those efforts, which then was back-translated by two bilingual nonmedical, professional English-language translators. The OKS-CV was developed according to the guidelines of copyright holders. Between March 2013 and March 2015, 253 patients underwent TKAs. Among them, 114 Mandarin-speaking patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent primary unilateral TKA (age, 67 ± 7 years; range, 55–84 years; female, 80%; preoperatively 54% had moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis), completed the preoperative questionnaires, and were followed up, with a mean postoperative followup of 2.7 years (SD, 0.5 years). Eligibility criteria were (1) patients with knee osteoarthritis who were scheduled to have a primary unilateral TKA, (2) patients who were fluent in Mandarin, and (3) consent to participate. The exclusion criteria were: (1) lack of understanding of Mandarin, and (2) inability to comprehend the questionnaires owing to cognitive impairment. To evaluate test-retest reliability, another group of 35 Mandarin-speaking outpatients with knee osteoarthritis (age, 61 ± 10 years; range, 44–84 years; female, 77%) was recruited to complete the OKS-CV twice at a 1-week interval. Reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct validity was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to quantify the correlations between the OKS-CV and the WOMAC, Short Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8TM), and EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire (EQ-5D). Exploratory factor analysis was performed to clarify dimensionality. The eigenvalue indicates the importance of each factor obtained from factor analysis. Responsiveness was determined by standardized response mean (SRM) and effect size (ES) from preoperative and postoperative scores of the OKS-CV. Floor and ceiling effects also were analyzed.ResultsThe internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87–0.97) proved good. Convergent construct validity was supported by moderate to strong correlations between the OKS-CV and the WOMAC (r = −0.80, p < 0.001), the SF-8TM physical component summary (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), and the EQ-5D usual activities (r = −0.41, p < 0.001) and mobility (r = −0.35, p < 0.001). There also were correlations between the OKS-CV and the SF-8TM mental component summary (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and the EQ-5D anxiety/depression (r = −0.35, p < 0.001). The factor analysis yielded three factors with eigenvalues greater than 1. Responsiveness was excellent (SRM = 1.52; ES = 1.52). No floor or ceiling effect was observed.ConclusionsThe OKS-CV showed good acceptability and psychometric properties for the intended population. Future studies are needed to evaluate the mental state of patients with knee osteoarthritis.Clinical RelevanceThe OKS-CV appears to be a reliable, valid, and responsive instrument for Chinese patients with knee osteoarthritis. Based on these results we believe the OKS-CV can be used as a valuable tool for the assessment of patient-reported outcomes in Chinese patients with knee osteoarthritis before and after TKA.

Impact of Japanese Lifestyle on Quality of Life for Patients with Total Hip Arthroplasty

The Japanese lifestyle includes activities with a greater range of hip motion, such as squat toilet and sitting on the floor. These activities increase the risk of hip dislocation for patients with total hip arthroplasty. However, research concerning the impact of Japanese lifestyle on quality of life for patients with total hip arthroplasty is limited. This cross-sectional study investigated lifestyle differences between two regions and quality of life related to Japanese lifestyle, controlling age and other covariates. Participants comprised 392 total hip arthroplasty patients with a postoperative period of one to seven years from major hospitals in northern (192 patients) and southern (200 patients) Japan. Participants were administered by the EQ-5D (assessing generic health-related quality of life), Oxford hip score (assessing hip-specific health condition), Japanese lifestyle difficulties (squat toilet, sitting on the floor, etc.) and lifestyle at home. The southern hospital sample retained more of a Japanese lifestyle compared to the northern hospital sample. Nearly 50% of participants reported some level of difficulty related to the Japanese squat toilet, although only a low percentage had it at home. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to predict the quality of life, and the final model retained the pain and function of the Oxford hip scores and Japanese squat toilet difficulty. The result indicates that physical environments outside of the house have an impact on quality of life for THA patients in Japan. Some aspects of the Asian lifestyle require a greater range of motion of the hip joint. In non-Western countries, regional differences in lifestyle and physical environments outside of their home need to be taken into consideration in discharge planning and rehabilitation. Further multinational comparison of the Asian lifestyle via prospective research is necessary, controlling pre-operative conditions.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and the risk of stroke recurrence in patients with a history of minor ischemic stroke in Japan: a retrospective analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for stroke prevention; in particular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, few studies have investigated its relationship with recurrent ischemic stroke (RIS). Objectives: To clarify the relationship between MVPA and RIS and the burden of risk factors after a first-ever ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 45 outpatients (mean age 67.1 ± 10.2 years) who had previously experienced a transient ischemic attack or a minor non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke at a single hospital in Japan (mean 6.4 ± 4.2 years previously), were enrolled between March and June 2016. All patients wore an accelerometer around their hips for 10 days, and their percentage body fat (%BF) and visceral fat level (VFL) were measured by bioelectrical impedance. Retrospective information about the history of RIS and risk factors (blood pressure, lipoprotein cholesterol and estimated glomerular filtration rate) were extracted from the clinical records. Binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the relevance of the RIS history to MVPA and potential risk factors such as sociodemographic and clinical variables (obesity, smoking and hypertension). Results: RIS occurred in 9 patients; they had significantly higher VFL (p = 0.007) and %BF (p = 0.007) values and lower MVPA (p = 0.011) values than patients without recurrence. A multivariate analysis of these factors indicated that age, VFL and MVPA were significant independent predictors of RIS. Conclusions: Patients with a history of mild ischemic stroke had low MVPA and high VFL values, which together may be a risk factor for RIS.

Quality of life, effects on Asian Lifestyle, and perceived satisfaction after total hip arthroplasty in Japan and Korea

BACKGROUND The Asian lifestyle requires deep hip flexion, which increases the risk of dislocation. Hence, Asian total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients may have problems postoperatively. This study aimed to 1) document quality of life (QoL), Asian lifestyle-related items (five postures that require deep hip flexion), and perceived satisfaction in patients who underwent THA in Japan versus Korea, 2) assess the differences in QoL and Asian lifestyle-related items by patient lifestyle, and 3) identify the factors predicting QoL. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 222 THA patients. Korean patients completed the questionnaires. Japanese patients were then matched with Korean patients by age, sex, and post-THA period. Assessed parameters included QoL measured by the EuroQoL, Oxford hip score (OHS), Asian lifestyle (measured by the Asian lifestyle-related items), and perceived satisfaction (measured by the five items of postoperative satisfaction). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of QoL. RESULTS Compared with Korean patients, Japanese patients had better QoL, but more difficulty performing postures requiring deep hip flexion. Greater QoL was associated with greater satisfaction. The predictors of decreased QoL after THA were lower OHS in both countries, worse squatting ability in Japan, and worse leg-crossing ability in Korea. CONCLUSIONS In Japan and Korea, the OHS is an important predictor of QoL after THA.