Patient-reported outcome measures are being developed for more relevant assessments of
pain management. The patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) ("feeling well") and the minimal clinically important improvement (MCII) ("feeling better") have been determined in clinical trials, but not in daily
pain management. We carried out a national multicenter cohort study of patients over the age of 50years with painful
knee osteoarthritis (KOA) or
hip osteoarthritis (
HOA) who had visited their general practitioner and required treatment for more than 7days. Overall, 2414 patients (50.2% men, mean age 67.3years, body mass index 27.9kg/m(2), 33.5% with
HOA) were enrolled by 1116 general practitioners. After 7days of treatment, PASS was estimated on a numerical rating scale as 4 at rest and 5 on movement, for both
HOA and KOA, above the PASS threshold in clinical trials. In KOA, PASS was more frequently reached in men and younger people with less
pain at rest and on movement, and in patients specifically seeking an improvement during sport activities. In
HOA, PASS was most frequently reached in patients with low levels of
pain at risk and in nonobese patients. MCII was -1 numerical rating scale point after 7days of usual treatment. This improvement is smaller than that recorded in randomized controlled trials, and was the same for both sites, both at rest and on movement. In conclusion, patient-reported outcome values in daily practice differ from those in clinical trials, and their determinant factors may depend on the site of
osteoarthritis. Assessments of the treatment of painful
osteoarthritis should be adapted to the characteristics and daily life of the patient, to personalize patient management.