The Presence Of Sarcopenia In Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC)

The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a widely used, proprietary set of standardized questionnaires used by health professionals to evaluate the condition of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, including pain, stiffness, and physical functioning of the joints. The test questions are scored on a scale of 0-4, which correspond to: None (0), Mild (1), Moderate (2), Severe (3), and Extreme (4). The scores for each subscale are summed up, with a possible score range of 0-20 for Pain, 0-8 for Stiffness, and 0-68 for Physical Function. The WOMAC is scored on a best to worst scale, so that lower subscale scores represent less pain, less stiffness, or better physical function.

Time frame: through study completion, an average of one and a half months

Short Form-36 (SF-36)

The health-related quality of life of the subjects will be evaluated with Short Form-36 (SF-36). This comprises 36 questions related to eight different subscales, physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitation, due to physical health problems, general health perceptions, vitality, energy and fatigue, role limitations due to emotional problems, social functioning and general mental health, which covers psychological distress and wellbeing. Each of eight subscales is scored between 0 and 100, with higher scores indicating a better quality of life.

Time frame: through study completion, an average of one and a half months

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D scale)

The CES-D scale is a brief self-report scale designed to measure self-reported symptoms associated with depression experienced in the past week. The items of the scale are symptoms associated with depression which have been used in previously validated longer scales. TheCES-D contains 20 items that can be responded to on a four-point Likert scale, with response categories ranging from 'rarely or none of the time' (0 points) to 'most or all of the times' (3 points) which are summed up to a total score where higher score indicate more severe depressive symptoms. A cut-off score of ≥ 16 is generally accepted as indicator for clinical meaningful depressive symptoms.

Time frame: through study completion, an average of one and a half months

The timed 'Up & Go' test

The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is a simple test used to assess a person's mobility and requires both static and dynamic balance. It uses the time that a person takes to rise from a chair, walk three meters, turn around 180 degrees, walk back to the chair, and sit down while turning 180 degrees.

Time frame: through study completion, an average of one and a half months

International Assessment Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF)

This measure assesses the types of intensity of physical activity and sitting time that people do as part of their daily lives are considered to estimate total physical activity in MET-min/week and time spent sitting. 2 METS is twice what you expend at rest. Data collected with IPAQ can be reported as a continuous measure and reported as median METminutes. Median values can be computed for walking (W), moderate-intensity activities (M), and vigorous-intensity activities (V) using the following formulas: Walking MET-minutes/week = 3.3 \* walking minutes \* walking/days, Moderate MET-minutes/week = 4.0 \* moderate-intensity activity minutes \* moderate days Vigorous MET-minutes/week = 8.0 \* vigorous-intensity activity minutes \* vigorous-intensity days.

Time frame: through study completion, an average of one and a half months

Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF)

The MNA® is a validated nutrition screening and assessment tool that can identify geriatric patients age 65 and above who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

Time frame: through study completion, an average of one and a half months