Analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic impact on osteoarthritis patient visits at physiotherapy clinics in Indonesia – A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the impact of visits by knee OA patients to physiotherapy clinics in Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study collected data from knee OA patients seeking treatment at a physiotherapy clinic in Makassar, Indonesia, from January to December 2021. The number of patient visits per month was compared using descriptive statistics. The treatment outcomes were measured in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index and analyzed using inferential statistics. RESULT: During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in knee OA patient visits to physiotherapy clinics. Knee OA patient visits increased after the vaccination program was implemented, especially for patients who had been vaccinated with the full dose. CONCLUSION: The frequency of knee OA patient visits to physiotherapy clinics decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic. It impacted the outcome of treatment received by the patients. However, patient visits increased after the vaccination program was implemented.