Objectives

To estimate the effects of total hip arthroplasty (THA) on three levels of physical functioning in a representative national sample of older adults.

Design

Survey.

Setting

Participants were interviewed in their homes.

Participants

Participants consisted of stratified random samples of Medicare beneficiaries interviewed between 1992 and 2003.

Methods

Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey from 1992 to 2003 and merged Medicare claims data identified participants who received (n=131) or did not receive (n=257) THA. Outcomes were three measures of physical functioning: Nagi items, instrumental activities of daily living, and activities of daily living. Baseline and follow-up measures were obtained approximately 6 months apart. Logistic regression was used to predict the effects of THA on functioning, with a wide range of covariates controlled.

Results

Persons who received THA significantly improved in two of three levels of physical functioning; the no-treatment group experienced declines in physical functioning.

Conclusion

Receipt of THA is associated with significant improvements in two levels of physical functioning. These benefits are broadly applicable in that a wide variety of covariates had minimal effects on THA receipt and outcome.