Psychosocial and individual factors affecting Quality of Life (QoL) in patients suffering from Achilles tendinopathy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a joint condition that causes functional restrictions and pain. This condition negatively impacts patients' social connectedness and psychological well-being, reducing their quality of life (QoL). This review aims to summarise the current information on QoL in patients suffering from AT and share the reported individual factors that influence it.Methods: A systematic review was conducted at PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO using tendinopathy and QoL-related keywords up to November 2021. Articles were included if they compared QoL to demographic factors such as age or gender, lifestyle factors (physical activity levels), comorbidity factors (diabetes, obesity), and/or a control group.Results: 327 articles were reviewed; 21 met inclusion criteria. SF-36, EQ-5D, and VISA-A were the most common instrument used. All studies reported worse QoL in AT patients compared to a control group. When women were compared to men, women reported worse QoL. Education delivered by health care professionals improved QoL in patients with AT. Surgical AT interventions generally resulted in good to excellent outcomes, although results varied by age.Conclusion: AT has a substantial impact on QoL. In AT patients, QoL is also influenced by specific individual factors, including gender and physical activity. To better comprehend AT, QoL data is a valuable tool that allows health care professionals to implement the most effective treatment plan.