Objective To study the effects of self-management of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) on the function and quality of life in old patients. Methods From October 2011 to April 2012, 100 patients with KOA from 2 communities in Tangshan, Hebei were recruited, and were as control group and intervention group based on the community. The intervention group learned a KOA self-management course, which consisted of 6 classes of 1.5 to 2 hours, once a week, taught by health professionals. The control group read the KOA self-management handbook only. They were measured with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2nd version- Short Form (AIMS2- SF) before and 6 months after intervention. Results The score of WOMAC and AIMS2-SF improved more in the intervention group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The KOA self-management program is effective on function and quality of life in old patients with KOA in community.

Objective To investigate the status and influencing factors of quality of life among middle-aged and elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in rural area of Tangshan city. Methods 216 KOA patients were investigated with the demographic data questionnaire,the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 short form (AIMS2-SF) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis index. Results The score of AIMS2-SF was (73.10±14.72) and the average score of each dimension was in the middle level. WOMAC Osteoarthritis index, levels of pain, economic status and marital status were the main predictors of their quality of life. Conclusion The quality of life of middle-aged and elderly patients with KOA in the rural area of Tangshan city was in the middle level and interventions targeted at the influencing factors should be enhanced to improve the quality of life.

Objective To investigate the incidence of nutritional risk for stroke patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods All the stroke patients with diabetes mellitus in a neurologic department were investigated with Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS2002). Results The incidences of undernutrition and nutritional risk were 11.3% (42/372) and 35.8% (133/372), respectively. The incidence of nutritional risk was more in the patients aged over 60 years than in the patients below 60 years (P=0.001). The incidence of both undernutrition and nutritional risk was more in the patients with stroke relapsing than those of the initial stroke (P<0.001). Conclusion The stroke patients with diabetes mellitus are in the risk of undernutrition and nutritional risk, especially those over the age of 60 years and relapsed stroke.