Abstract
This study investigates the use of the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) score in a hip arthroplasty population and its ability to capture additional benefit beyond the maximum Oxford Hip Score (OHS).
OHS, EuroQol-5D index (EQ-5D), and the MET were prospectively recorded in 221 primary hip arthroplasty procedures pre-operatively and at 1-year. The distribution was examined reporting the presence of ceiling & floor effects. Validity was assessed correlating the MET with the other scores using Spearman's rank and determining responsiveness using the standardised response mean (SRM). A subgroup of 93 patients scoring 48/48 on the OHS were analysed by age group, sex, BMI and pre-operative MET using the other two metrics to determine if differences could be established despite all scoring identically on the OHS.
117 total hip and 104 hip resurfacing arthroplasty operations were included. Mean age was 59.4 ± 11.3. Post-operatively the OHS and EQ-5D demonstrate significant negatively skewed distributions with ceiling effects of 41% and 53%, respectively. The MET was normally distributed post-operatively with no ceiling effect. Weak-moderate but statistically significant correlations were found between the MET and the other two metrics both pre & post-operatively. Responsiveness was excellent, SRM for OHS: 2.01, EQ-5D: 1.06 and MET: 1.17. In the 48/48 scoring subgroup, no differences were found comparing groups with the EQ-5D, however significantly higher MET scores were demonstrated for patients aged <60 (12.7 vs 10.6, p=0.008), male patients (12.5 vs 10.8, p=0.024) and those with pre-operative MET scores >6 (12.6 vs 11.0, p=0.040).
The MET is normally distributed in patients following hip arthroplasty, recording levels of activity which are undetectable using the OHS. As a simple, valid activity metric, it should be considered in addition to conventional PROMs in order to capture the entire benefit experienced following hip arthroplasty.
