Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain and functional limitation. Previous studies have reported inconsistent relationships between radiographic severity and functional impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between functional status and radiographic grading in patients with knee osteoarthritis.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal. Adults aged 40-90 years with knee osteoarthritis diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology criteria were included. Functional status was evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and the Timed Up and Go test. Radiographic severity was graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence system. Correlations between demographic, functional, and radiographic variables were analyzed. Results: A total of 185 patients were included. Kellgren-Lawrence grade showed a significant positive correlation with WOMAC score (r = 0.55, p < 0.001) and TUG score (r=0.71, p < 0.001). Age demonstrated a positive correlation with WOMAC score (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) and Kellgren-Lawrence grade (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). Body mass index showed a weak positive correlation with WOMAC score (r = 0.25, p = 0.0006) and no statistically significant correlation with Kellgren-Lawrence grade (r = 0.14, p = 0.058).Conclusions: In this study, poorer functional status was positively associated with greater radiographic severity in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Objective functional assessment using the Timed Up and Go test may complement radiographic evaluation in clinical practice; however, the findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal relationships.
Nepali et al. (Tue,) studied this question.