Total Joint Replacement in the Past Does Not Relate to a Deteriorated Functional Level and Health Status in the Oldest Old

Abstract

Total hip or knee replacement is effective in improving joint function, quality of life, and pain reduction. The oldest old population with joint replacements (TJR) is underrepresented in current literature. We compared health-related and functional characteristics of oldest olds with and without TJR. Participants (aged 85 years) were divided into a group with and without TJR. Comorbidity, physical and joint functioning, daily living activities, quality of life, and mortality were recorded. Thirty-eight of 599 participants (6.3%) received a TJR in the past. Participants with a TJR had slightly less comorbidities, walked slower (P = 0.006), and complained more about hip-pain (P = 0.007). Mortality of those with a TJR was lower during the first 8-year followup (P = 0.04). All other characteristics were comparable between groups. We conclude that subjects with a TJR performed equally well, besides showing a lower gait speed and a higher frequency of hip-pain. Except for the lower gaitspeed, having a TJR is not associated with poorer health.

Associations of Various Health-Ratings with Geriatric Giants, Mortality and Life Satisfaction in Older People

“…Mobility was measured as gait speed in seconds during the first 3 meters of a standardised walking test [ 13 ]. Stability was measured as speed in seconds to complete the first two repetitions of a standardised stand-up test [ 15 ]. For both speed and stability, median speed was calculated separately for both sexes and participants who did not complete the task were categorised as below the median.…”