400 Section - Correlation of Physical Function, Quality of Life and Disease Severity with Neuropathic Pain in Primary Knee Osteoarthritis

Neuropathic pain in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) is increasingly recognized for its effect on physical function, quality of life, and disease severity. Despite its impact on management outcomes, it still remains understudied. This study aims to assess the correlation of neuropathic pain in patients with primary knee OA using validated tools.

Design: A cross-sectional study at AIIMS Guwahati included 143 patients with primary knee OA. Neuropathic pain was assessed using DN4 and LANSS scales; physical function by WOMAC; quality of life by OAKHQOL; disease severity by Lequesne index. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiographic data were collected. Statistical analysis done using SPSS (version 27), involved descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, and Cohen’s Kappa for agreement between DN4 and LANSS. Significance was set at p< 0.05

Results:

Patients averaged 58.5 years old, 88.8% female. Neuropathic pain prevalence was 51% by DN4 and 46.9% by LANSS. Those with neuropathic pain exhibited significantly higher disease severity and disability (WOMAC mean 56.7 vs 41.7. Lequesne extreme disability in 78.1% vs 40%) and lower quality of life scores (OAKHQOL mean 59.3 vs 69.8). Moderate agreement was found between DN4 and LANSS (Kappa 0.581). This study shows a high prevalence of neuropathic pain in primary knee OA patients, consistent with existing evidence that neuropathic mechanisms contribute significantly to OA pain. Neuropathic pain correlates strongly with advanced radiological severity, increased disability (Lequesne index), impaired function (WOMAC), and poorer quality of life (OAKHQOL). The moderate agreement between DN4 and LANSS tools highlights the complexity of Neuropathic pain detection, emphasizing the need for multimodal assessment and tailored therapy to improve outcomes in OA patients.

Conclusion:

Neuropathic pain is an impactful component of primary knee OA, linked to greater disease severity and poorer quality of life, underscoring the need for early detection and targeted management.