Data from: Preoperative characteristics of working-age patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Objective Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is performed more in working-age
(<65 years) patients. Until now, research in this patient
population has been conducted mainly among retired (≥65 years) patients.
Aim of this study was therefore to describe demographic, physical,
psychological and social characteristics of working TKA patients and to
subsequently compare these characteristics with retired TKA patients and
the general population. Methods A cross-sectional analysis. Preoperative
data of 152 working TKA patients was used. These data were compared with
existing data of retired TKA patients in hospital registers and with
normative values from literature on the general population. Demographic,
physical, psychological and social (including work) characteristics were
analyzed. Results The majority (83.8%) of working TKA patients was
overweight (42.6%) or obese (41.2%), a majority (72.4%) was dealing with
two or more comorbidities, and most (90%) had few depressive symptoms.
Mean physical activity level was 2950 minutes per week. Compared to the
retired TKA population, working TKA patients perceived significantly more
stiffness and better physical functioning and vitality, were more
physically active, and perceived better mental health. Compared to the
general population working TKA patients perceived worse physical
functioning, worse physical health and better mental health, and worked
fewer hours. Conclusion This study shows that a majority of working TKA
patients are overweight/obese, have multiple comorbidities, but are highly
active in light-intensity activities and have few depressive symptoms.
Working patients scored overall better on preoperative characteristics
than retired patients, and except for physical activity scored overall
worse than the general population.