Feasibility and efficacy of a multidisciplinary health care programme for patients with knee osteoarthritis

To examine the feasibility and efficacy of a multidisciplinary health care programme for patients with knee OA. A 12-month follow-up care programme for knee OA, based on clinical evidence and expert opinion was implemented in primary care settings. It included recommendations on diagnosis, management and follow-up. Consecutive patients with knee OA and pain were included, classified into mild (21-39 score), moderate (40-69 score), severe disease (70-100 score) in WOMAC pain subscale, and managed according to the programme. Data were recorded using electronic devices or internet at each visit. Primary end points were: OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria; 70% compliance rate of the recommendations. We included 226 patients, 75% women, mean age 63 years, mean disease duration of 2.4 years, 76% reported Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3-4, and were classified as mild: 17%, moderate: 54% and severe disease: 29%. At the end of the study, 78% of patients achieved pain relief of ≥ 20 points in the WOMAC pain subscale, and 80% OMERACT-OARSI response criteria. Almost 90% of physicians followed the recommendations. WOMAC and SF-36 subscales/dimensions improved (p