Understanding pain phenotypes in individuals with early knee osteoarthritis

Knee Osteoarthritis (KO) can result in uncontrolled chronic pain and functional limitation. Researchers have recommended early identification and treatment of KO and exploration of pain subgroups as strategies to minimise the long-term disease burden. Existing KO pain phenotypes are based on patients with established disease, largely having cross-sectional outcomes, and does not reflect possible impairments in people with early KOA. This project will explore two pain phenotype models using pain variables alone and pain and clinical variables in people with early KO. This study will be the first to compare and identify different models for pain phenotypes in those with early KO and will help inform the current debate about which approach (pain vs broad clinical) is better to use for phenotype creation and prediction of pain worsening two years later.