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. 2021 Jan;29(1):39–49. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2020.11.001

Table III.

Knee and hip pain (VAS) differences at baseline, and changes immediately after, and 12 months after exercise therapy and education between participants with and without comorbidities


Baseline VAS
Mean mm (95% CI)
3 mo. VAS
Mean mm (95% CI)
Change 3 mo. VAS
Mean mmm (95% CI)
12 mo. VAS
Mean mm (95% CI)
Change 12 mo. VAS
Mean mm (95% CI)
No comor, n = 12,128
45.9 (45.5–46.3)
33.2 (32.7–33.6)
−12.7 (−13.2 to −12.2)
32.0 (31.6–32.5)
−13.8 (−14.3 to −13.4)

Difference at baseline
Difference in change at 3 months
Difference in change at 12 months

Mean mm (95% CI)
Unadjusted mean mm (95% CI)
Adjusted mean mm (95% CI)
Unadjusted mean mm (95% CI)
Adjusted mean mm (95% CI)
HT, n = 5,716 2.1 (1.4–2.9) 0.3 (−0.6 to 1.1) 0.3 (−0.6 to 1.1) 1.2 (0.3–2.1) 1.3 (0.4 to 2.2)
HT + DM, n = 729 4.5 (2.8–6.2) 1.5 (−0.5 to 3.5) 1.5 (−0.5 to 3.5) 2.5 (0.4–4.7) 2.6 (0.4 to 4.8)
HT + HD, n = 630 3.2 (1.4–5.0) −0.0 (−2.1 to 2.1) 0.0 (−2.1 to 2.1) 1.2 (−1.2 to 3.6) 1.2 (−1.2 to 3.6)
Resp, n = 558 2.7 (0.8–4.6) 0.2 (−2.1 to 2.5) 0.2 (−2.1 to 2.5) 1.5 (−1.0 to 4.1) 1.6 (−1.0 to 4.1)
HD, n = 551 −0.6 (−2.5 to 1.4) 3.5 (1.3–5.8) 3.5 (1.3 to 5.8) 4.0 (1.4–6.6) 4.0 (1.4 to 6.6)
Neu, n = 508 3.9 (1.9–5.9) −1.5 (−3.8 to 0.9) −1.3 (−3.6 to 1.1) −0.6 (−3.8 to 0.9) −0.6 (−3.2 to 2.0)
RA, n = 501 3.5 (1.5–5.5) −1.2 (−3.8 to 1.3) −1.1 (−3.7 to 1.4) −0.8 (−3.4 to 1.9) −0.7 (−3.4 to 2.0)
Ulcer, n = 447 5.7 (3.6–7.9) −1.1 (−3.7 to 1.6) −1.0 (−3.7 to 1.6) −0.1 (−3.0 to 2.8) −0.2 (−3.1 to 2.7)
Dep, n = 408 6.6 (4.4–8.9) 0.4 (−2.5 to 3.2) 0.3 (−2.5 to 3.2) 2.7 (−0.8 to 6.2) 2.7 (−0.8 to 6.2)
DM, n = 358 2.5 (0.2–4.9) 0.3 (−2.5 to 3.2) 0.3 (−2.5 to 3.2) −0.6 (−3.9 to 2.8) −0.5 (−3.9 to 2.8)
HT + Resp, n = 323 3.0 (0.5–5.5) 3.0 (0.0–5.9) 3.0 (0.0 to 5.9) 0.4 (−3.0 to 3.9) 0.4 (−3.0 to 3.8)
HT + RA, n = 275 3.9 (1.2–6.6) 1.9 (−1.4 to 5.1) 1.9 (−1.4 to 5.1) 2.4 (−1.2 to 6.0) 2.4 (−1.2 to 6.0)
HT + Neu, n = 274 2.2 (−0.5 to 4.9) 5.1 (1.8–8.4) 5.0 (1.7 to 8.3) 7.2 (3.7–10.7) 7.1 (3.6 to 10.6)
HT + Ulcer, n = 254 7.5 (4.7–10.3) −0.5 (−4.0 to 3.0) −0.3 (−3.8 to 3.3) 2.7 (−1.1 to 6.6) 2.9 (−0.9 to 6.8)
Cancer, n = 234 1.4 (−1.5 to 4.3) 2.5 (−1.1 to 6.0) 2.5 (−1.1 to 6.0) 2.9 (−0.8 to 6.7) 2.9 (−0.8 to 6.7)
HT + Dep, n = 203 7.7 (4.5–10.8) −1.3 (−6.0 to 2.6) −1.3 (−5.2 to 2.7) 2.3 (−2.3 to 6.9) 2.4 (−2.3 to 7.0)
HT + Cancer, n = 137 1.0 (−2.8 to 4.8) 5.3 (0.8–9.9) 5.4 (0.9 to 10.0) 0.2 (−4.9 to 5.3) 0.3 (−4.8 to 5.4)
HT + HD + DM, n = 117 6.6 (2.5–10.7) 0.2 (−5.5 to 5.1) 0.1 (−5.5 to 5.2) −1.4 (−8.4 to 5.6) −1.4 (−8.4 to 5.6)
Anemia, n = 83 2.7 (−2.1 to 7.6) −1.2 (−7.0 to 4.6) −1.2 (−7.0 to 4.6) −2.8 (−9.2 to 3.6) −2.7 (−9.1 to 3.6)
HT + Ren/Liv. n = 79 2.9 (−2.1 to 7.9) −0.2 (−6.4 to 5.9) −0.2 (−6.4 to 5.9) 3.0 (−3.7 to 9.8) 3.1 (−3.7 to 9.8)
Number of comorbidities
1 comorbidity, n = 9,441 2.6 (1.9–3.2) 0.2 (−0.5 to 0.0) 0.2 (−0.5 to 0.9) 1.1 (0.3–1.9) 1.1 (0.4 to 1.9)
2 comorbidities, n = 3,838 4.5 (3.7–5.4) 1.4 (0.4–2.3) 1.4 (0.4 to 2.3) 1.9 (0.9–2.9) 1.9 (0.9 to 2.9)
3 comorbidities, n = 1,173 7.5 (6.1–8.8) 0.5 (−1.1 to 2.0) 0.5 (−1.1 to 2.1) 1.3 (−0.6 to 3.1) 1.3 (−0.6 to 3.1)
≥4 comorbidities, n = 392 11.8 (9.5–14.1) 2.6 (−0.2 to 5.4) 2.7 (−0.1 to 5.5) 0.3 (−3.1 to 3.7) 0.3 (−3.1 to 3.8)

n: Number, CI: Confidence interval. Comor: Comorbidities, HT: Hypertension, DM: Diabetes mellitus one and 2, Resp: Respiratory disease, HD: Heart disease, Neu: Neurologic disease, RA: Rheumatoid arthritis, Dep: Depression, Ren/Liv: Renal and/or liver disease.

Adjusted for age, sex, BMI, educational level, not born in Denmark, civil status, physical activity, problems in other joints, use of analgesics, and number of bodily pain areas. Estimates in bold reflect statistical significance (P < 0.05).