Quality-Adjusted Life-Years Lost Due to Physical Inactivity in a US Population With Osteoarthritis.

Objective: One-half of the 14 million persons in the US with knee osteoarthritis (OA) are not physically active, despite evidence that physical activity (PA) is associated with improved health. We undertook this study to estimate both the quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) losses in a US population with knee OA due to physical inactivity and the health benefits associated with higher PA levels.

Methods: We used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to estimate the proportions of a US population with knee OA ages ≥45 years that are inactive, insufficiently active, and active, and the likelihood of a shift in their PA level.

Screening for depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are major causes of disability. Identifying COPD patients at risk for depression would facilitate the alleviation of an important comorbidity conferring additional risk for poor outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of a brief screening measure, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), in detecting the mood disorders in persons with COPD.