What is the Impact of Social Deprivation on Mental and Physical Health Before and After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health (PROMIS-GH) scores before and after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized that patients with greater social deprivation would have lower PROMIS-GH scores at 3 months and 1 year following primary TKA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients who underwent unilateral primary TKA and completed PROMIS-GH preoperatively and at 3 months (n = 257) or 1 year (n = 154) postoperatively. Area Deprivation Index (ADI), calculated from 9-digit zip codes, was used to measure social deprivation. Participants were grouped into quartiles by ADI score. Minimal clinically important difference in PROMIS-GH mental (PROMIS-MH) and physical health (PROMIS-PH) component scores were compared between ADI groups. RESULTS: Participants in the highest ADI quartile (most disadvantaged) had significantly lower PROMIS-MH and PROMIS-PH scores at every time point relative to the lowest ADI quartile (least disadvantaged) (P < .05 for all). Both ADI groups experienced significant improvements in PROMIS-PH following TKA (P < .001 for all), but not in PROMIS-MH (P > .05 for all) at 3-months and 1-year postoperatively. Magnitude of improvement in PROMIS-PH and rates of achievement of minimal clinically important difference did not significantly differ between ADI groups (P > .05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Socially disadvantaged patients benefit equally from primary TKA but are more likely to have persistently lower 1-year postoperative PROMIS-GH scores relative to less disadvantaged patients. Social deprivation should be accounted for when using PROMIS-GH to assess clinical outcomes for research and quality measures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective cohort study.