TITLE:
Quality of Life in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis in Lomé at CHU S.O.
AUTHORS:
Viwalé Etonam Sika Koffi-Tessio, Eyram Fianyo, Mamadou Lamine Diallo, Sadat Oniankitan, Mazinlong Richard Kpizing, Awaki Atake, Komi Cyrille Tagbor, Kodjo Kakpovi, Prénam Houzou, Owonayo Oniankitan, Moustafa Mijiyawa
KEYWORDS:
Quality of Life, Knee Osteoarthritis, Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.16 No.4,
November
6,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, the knee is the most common peripheral joint affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis of the knee (KOA) can lead to functional disability and have a significant social and occupational impact. Objectives: To assess the quality of life of knee osteoarthritis patients in rheumatology consultations using the AMIQUAL questionnaire. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 14 months in the rheumatology department of the CHU Sylvanus Olympio of Lomé, including patients with KOA fulfilling ACR criteria. Sociodemographic data and comorbidities were collected. Results: A total of 200 patients were included in the study, including 169 women (84%) and 31 men (15.5%), with a mean age of 55.7 years (range 20 - 95 years). Comorbid conditions were overweight in 63 patients, obese in 77, hypertension in 86 and diabetes in 34. According to the AMIQUAL scale, 98 patients had a normalised score between 25 and 50 for physical activities, 75 between 50 and 75 for pain, 128 between 50 and 75 for mental health, 90 between 50 and 75 for social activities, and 170 scored above 75 for social support. The highest mean normalised score was for the social support dimension (83.6 ± 12.6) and the lowest for physical activity (42.2 ± 20.4; range 4 - 99.4). Age was significantly associated with pain, social and occupational activities, gender with physical and occupational activities, and pain with social support. Conclusion: The quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis was most affected in the dimensions of physical and occupational activities, and less so in the dimensions of social activities and social support.