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Evaluation of functional capacity in individuals with signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disease: results of the BRAZCO population study (Brazilian COPCORD Study)

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Abstract

The disability caused by the musculoskeletal signs and symptoms affects the quality of life of a population, especially that related to health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the functional capacity of individuals of the Brazilian population who presented musculoskeletal signs and symptoms (MSK-S). The prevalence of MSK-S was evaluated in 5000 individuals (>15 years) in 16 capitals from the five regions of Brazil using the COPCORD Core Questionnaire. Those individuals (n = 2494) that experienced MSK-S and referred some level of disability at the time of the interview were invited to complete the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). The HAQ-DI scores were compared among regions, and subgroups according to gender, age and type of activity. Three hundred ninety-four (7.9 %) participants reported disability at the time of the interview. The average score of HAQ-DI was 1.09 (SD = 0.71), and the Brazilian region with the highest level of disability was the North region. Among individuals without history of trauma, the disability was higher when the duration of MSK-S was longer. Disability was shown to worsen with increasing age, and the group with 25–34 years showed the lowest scores. Females showed worse functional capacity scores compared to males (p = 0.002). Individuals showed higher degrees of difficulty or were incapable of performing the activities walking, reaching, usual activities and dressing. MSK-S reduce the functional capacity of individuals of the Brazilian general population. The reduction in functional capacity was mainly observed in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal complaints not due to trauma, as well as in female gender and in advancing age.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Brazilian Health Ministry-Cooperation Term with Universidade Federal de São Paulo #136/2011.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 740 3rd floor, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 06023-900, Brazil

    Fabio Jennings, Emilia Inoue Sato & Marcos Bosi Ferraz

  2. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Geraldo da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro

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  1. Fabio Jennings
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  2. Emilia Inoue Sato
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  3. Geraldo da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro
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  4. Marcos Bosi Ferraz
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Correspondence to Fabio Jennings.

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Jennings, F., Sato, E.I., da Rocha Castelar Pinheiro, G. et al. Evaluation of functional capacity in individuals with signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disease: results of the BRAZCO population study (Brazilian COPCORD Study). Rheumatol Int 35, 1873–1879 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-015-3299-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-015-3299-9

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