According to a new study, clinical depression can exacerbate the symptoms of arthritis in knee beyond what is evident on X-rays. Patients with mild to moderate arthritis in knee are especially affected by depression, the study notes.
Clinical Depression Can Worsen the Symptoms of Arthritis in Knee
“Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain and impairment in older adults,” said study author Tae Kyun Ki. “Often, the level of arthritic symptoms reported by patients is much more severe than what is represented by X-rays, which can make it difficult for the doctor to treat.”The results of this study indicate that depression can play a major role in the way patients experience the symptoms of arthritis in knee, and that even when X-rays show the arthritis is not severe, patients with depression may report significant pain,” Dr. Kim said. “The relationship between pain and depression suggests that both should be considered by physicians when treating patients with knee osteoarthritis, particularly in those with X-rays not indicating severe damage to the joint.”
The study included 660 men and women aged 65 years or older who were evaluated for the severity of their arthritis in knee on X-rays, as well as symptom severity. Patient interviews and questionnaires were used to assess coincident depressive disorders. The study was conducted as a part of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA).
As expected, the researchers found the levels of pain attributed to arthritis in knee were higher in patients whose X-rays indicated greater joint damage; however, they also found depressive disorders were associated with an increase in pain in patients with mild to moderate arthritis in knee, even when X-rays did not show significant joint damage.
“When evaluating the results of this study, the contribution of depression to knee osteoarthritis symptoms was almost as important as the damage indicated on X-rays,” Dr. Kim noted.
Knee arthritis typically affects men and women over 50 years of age, and occurs most frequently in people who are overweight. Common symptoms include:
- pain or stiffness in or around the knee;
- swelling of the knee;
- limited range of motion when walking or moving the knee; or
- knee weakness or a feeling of instability.
- The risk of depression increases with other illnesses and when ability to function becomes limited.
- Estimates of major depression in older people range from 1 percent to 5 percent among those living in the community, to as high as 11.5 percent in hospital patients and 13.5 percent in those who require home healthcare.
- An estimated 5 million older adults have mild depression, which is often undiagnosed. Symptoms of depression may include:
- feelings of sadness or hopelessness;
- loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed;
- change in appetite or sleep patterns;
- difficulty thinking and remembering; or
- frequent thoughts of death or dying.
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