Analysis of cognitive function in patients with chronic pain due to knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.23170190.v33ae243289Keywords:
Osteoarthritis, Knee, Chronic Pain, Cognition, Quality of Life, RehabilitationAbstract
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic musculoskeletal condition that, in addition to limiting mobility, compromises quality of life and can affect cognitive performance. Objective: To investigate the correlation between cognitive function, assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, and educational level), clinical variables (body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia), and pain (Catastrophizing Scale, Visual Analogue Scale - VAS, WOMAC pain, SF-36 pain, and McGill Pain Questionnaire) in Brazilian patients with KOA. Furthermore, to identify the cognitive domains most related to the impact of pain on quality of life. Method: Cross-sectional study with 106 patients diagnosed with OA, conducted between August 2020 and July 2022. Multiple linear regression and Spearman correlation (α<0.05) were applied using R software. Results: Approximately 98% of participants presented a MoCA score <26, indicating possible mild cognitive impairment. The sample was predominantly composed of women (83.0%), with a mean age of 68.5 years. Education level and perception of the impact of pain on quality of life (SF-36) were significant predictors of overall cognitive performance, explaining 24% of the variance in MoCA (r²= 0.24). Education level was positively associated with executive function (rho= 0.55; p<0.0001), language (rho=0.38; p<0.0001), and visuospatial skills (rho= 0.35; p= 0.0002), while greater pain impact correlated with deficits in language (rho= 0.31; p= 0.0012) and visuospatial skills (rho= 0.35; p= 0.0002). Conclusion: Low levels of education and a greater perception of pain in quality of life are associated with lower cognitive performance, which may affect adherence to and outcomes of rehabilitation.
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