Introduction:

Osteoarthritis is characterised by loss or loss of joint cartilage. It clinically presents with pain, rigidity, deformity, different degrees of functional disability, and a decreased perception in the quality of life of patients that suffer from it.

Objective:

To determine the perceived quality of life related to health in patients with osteoarthritis, and to correlate it with their functional capacity.

Materials and methods:

A descriptive study including 2,787 patients. A Coop/Wonca questionnaire was completed to determine perceived quality of life. Cronbach's alpha determined the internal validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Pearson correlation between quality of life and functional capacity was determined. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients included in the study were recorded.

Results:

The mean age was 65 years, with the majority being between 60 and 69 years, and included 65.69% females. The knees were the most affected joint group (37.82%), with 72.37% of the patients having associated comorbidity, including arterial hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The score of the Coop/Wonca questionnaire was 21.29, with higher scores in men. The most affected dimensions were pain (3.37), physical form (3.11), and daily activities (2.98). Moderate disability predominated.

Conclusions:

Osteoarthritis is associated with a large number of comorbidities. There was a correlation between functional capacity and quality of life. The Coop/Wonca chart is a very useful tool in primary health care.

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