Background. The aims of this study were to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients awaiting anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction compared to the population at risk: whether knee-specific function was predictive of HRQoL and to identify factors associated with a worse HRQoL. Methods. Sixty-seven patients (male, n = 50; female, n = 17; mean age, 29) identified from the surgical waiting list completed a questionnaire that included demographics, BMI, time of injury, EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D), Short-Form (SF-36), and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores. Age- and sex-matched HRQoL data were obtained from population level data. Results. The mean EQ-5D score for the study cohort was significantly worse than the matched score (difference, 0.367; p < 0.001 ), and the same trend was observed for all eight dimensions of the SF-36 score. Thirty-three (49%) patients felt their health, in general, was somewhat or much worse compared to one year ago. There was a correlation between IKDC and EQ-5D scores (r = 0.540, p < 0.001 ). Linear regression was used to formulate the EQ-5D score: EQ-5D = (IKDCx0.013)–0.015 (constant). The SF-36 physical component and length of time on the waiting list were independently associated with the HRQoL, with each 14-point drop or for every 200 days, a clinically significant deterioration in patients’ HRQoL occurred, respectively. Conclusions. Patients had a significantly worse HRQoL when compared to the age- and sex-matched population, which deteriorates with worsening physical function and increasing length of time on the waiting list. The knee-specific IKDC correlated with HRQoL and could be used to estimate the EQ-5D score.

Aim To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients waiting for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction compared to the population at risk, and whether knee specific function was predictive of HRQoL and to identify factors associated with a worse HRQoL. Method Sixty-seven patients (male n = 50, female n = 17, mean age 29) identified from the surgical waiting list completed a questionnaire that included demographics, BMI, time of injury, EuroQol 5-demension (EQ-5D), short-form (SF-)36 and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores. Age and sex matched HRQoL data were obtained from population level data. Results The mean EQ-5D score for the study cohort was significantly worse than the matched score (difference 0.367, p&lt;0.001), and the same trend was observed for all eight dimensions of the SF-36 score. Thirty-three (49%) patients felt their health in general was somewhat or much worse compared to one-year ago. There was a correlation between the IKDC and EQ-5D scores (r = 0.540, p&lt;0.001), and linear regression was used to formulate the EQ-5D score: EQ-5D = (IKDCx0.013)–0.015(constant). The SF-36 physical component and the length of time on the waiting list were independently associated the HRQoL, with each 14-point drop or for every 200-days a clinically significant deterioration in a patients HRQoL occurred, respectively. Conclusions Patients had a significantly worse HRQoL when compared to age and sex match population, which deteriorates with worsening physical function and increasing length of time on the waiting list. The knee specific IKDC correlated with HRQoL and could be used to estimate the EQ-5D score.