A recently published observational study published in the Journal of Orthopedics established an electronic HOOS and WOMAC measurement system based on the patient-reported outcome of asymptomatic individuals of the two geographically different countries.

The main aim of this observational analysis is to discover whether an electronic, multicenter data collection method could be employed to build the normal population reference values for the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS). The secondary purpose was to examine variations in asymptomatic WOMAC and HOOS values described in two geographically different English-speaking countries and compare these with the symptomatic arthritic patient cohort. Asymptomatic Canadian and Australian cohorts were compared. Further, the comparison of combined asymptomatic cohorts was done with an arthritic cohort.

Age and asymptomatic HOOS and WOMAC values showed a statistically significant relationship, which got worsened with growing age. Women found to had worse WOMAC and HOOS values.  Worse scores were noticed within arthritic participants when compared with sex- and age-matched asymptomatic participants. In all the age groups, asymptomatic Australians noticed with statistically significant 3.8% better HOOS scores. Younger arthritic patients showed worse recreation HOOS values, activities of sports and daily living during the comparison with sex- and age-matched asymptomatic patients.

Collectively, electronic WOMAC and HOOS patient-reported outcome measures database were established, and factors that should be considered while recording these measures were sex, age, geographic location, active knee, ankle, or foot problems, contralateral hip disease, and history of an inactive hip problem.