Impact of hallux valgus severity on general and foot‐specific health‐related quality of life

Abstract

Objective. To explore the prevalence of and factors associated with hallux valgus and to assess the impact of hallux valgus severity on general and foot-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older people. Methods. People age >56 years who participated in the 6-year followup of the North Staffordshire Osteoarthritis Project (n ‫؍‬ 2,831) completed a survey that included the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey and the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index (FPDI). Self-reported hallux valgus severity was assessed using a validated instrument. Comparisons of SF-36 and FPDI scores were made across 5 severity grades of hallux valgus. Results. Hallux valgus was present in 36.3% of the study population and was associated with female sex, older age, and pain in other bodily regions. There was a progressive reduction in all SF-36 component scores as the severity of hallux valgus increased; this association remained after adjusting for age, sex, education, and body mass index. The strength of these associations diminished after also adjusting for pain in the back, hip, knee, and foot, but hallux valgus severity remained significantly associated with reduced physical function, bodily pain, general health, social function, and mental health subscale scores. Among participants with foot pain, increasing hallux valgus severity was also significantly associated with greater impairment on the pain and function subscales of the FPDI after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. Conclusion. There is a progressive reduction in both general and foot-specific HRQOL with increasing severity of hallux valgus deformity.

The Relation of Hallux Valgus Severity With Foot Function and Balance in Older Men

“…In the literature, participants were diagnosed using various methods including radiography, a self-report instrument and pedobarographic analysis (1,3,4,30). Surely, quantitative methods would provide more objective results.…”

“…Estimations of the community prevalence of HV vary widely (1), ranging from 21% to 65% of the general adult population (4). The etiology of hallux valgus is reported differently in literature (3,6).…”

“…It is characterized by lateral drift of the great toe (2,3). Factors contributing to the formation of hallux valgus can be sorted as wearing high heeled shoes which narrows toe box, excessively long first metatarsals, round metatarsal heads, large intermetatarsal angle, first ray hypermobility, and pronated foot posture (4,5).…”

“…These problems can lead to considerable pain, gait abnormalities, functional limitations, balance disorders, and increase the risk of falling in the elderly (1,3,4,6,8,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Furthermore, some studies have found that people with hallux valgus score poorly on evaluations of health-related quality of life (4).These findings suggest that hallux valgus does not simply cause isolated problems in the feet but can have a broader effect on the individual as a whole (5). For this reason, it is important to find out the risk factors of hallux valgus to prevent or minimise the progression of the disorder.…”

Range of motion and pain intensity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in women with hallux valgus deformation after two-month home exercise programme

“…The deformation is considered to be progressive and irreversible [4,10]. According to different sources HV occurs in about 23% of population [7] and is associated with female gender, older age, and pain in other bodily regions [9]. Some authors refer narrow shoes and high heels as a big promoter for developing HV [6].…”