Table 5.

Watchful waiting studies

Study (Study Design) Funding source	Patient Characteristics	Patients pain level at baseline	Patients pain level at follow-up	Use of walking aids	Notes
Dieppe (1997) [16] Single orthopedic unit (UK) Follow up: Mean (range) 37.6 months (31–41) (Observational study Arthritis and Rheumatism Council	N = 84 patients Mean age (SD): 50 (12.1)	None = 7% Mild = 48% Moderate = 31% Severe = 10%	None = 4% Mild = 50% Moderate = 32% Severe = 14%	9 patients (32 %) at baseline 8 patients (29%) at 3 year follow up	All patients had symptomatic limb joint osteoarthritis. Surgery performed in 9 patients (32%)
Dieppe (2000) [17] Single orthopedic unit (UK) Follow up: Mean (range) NR (36–96) (Observational study) Arthritis and Rheumatism Council	N = 29 patients Mean age (SD): 50 (12.1)	None = 7% Mild = 48% Moderate = 31% Severe = 10%	None = 3% Mild = 34% Moderate = 48% Severe = 14%	12 patients (41%) at 8 year follow up	All patients had symptomatic limb joint osteoarthritis. Surgery performed in 14 patients (48%)

Note: The studies above involve the same population, but have different length of follow up.

NR: Not Reported.