Title | Persistence and remission of musculoskeletal pain in community-dwelling older adults: results from the cardiovascular health study. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Thielke, SM, Whitson, H, Diehr, P, O'Hare, A, Kearney, PM, Chaudhry, SI, Zakai, NA, Kim, D, Sekaran, N, Sale, JEM, Arnold, AM, Chaves, P, Newman, A |
Journal | J Am Geriatr Soc |
Volume | 60 |
Issue | 8 |
Pagination | 1393-400 |
Date Published | 2012 Aug |
ISSN | 1532-5415 |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Humans, Male, Musculoskeletal Pain, Remission Induction, Residence Characteristics |
Abstract | <p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To characterize longitudinal patterns of musculoskeletal pain in a community sample of older adults over a 6-year period and to identify factors associated with persistence of pain.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>Secondary analysis of the Cardiovascular Health Study.</p><p><b>SETTING: </b>Community-based cohort drawn from four U.S. counties.</p><p><b>PARTICIPANTS: </b>Five thousand ninety-three men and women aged 65 and older.</p><p><b>MEASUREMENTS: </b>Over a 6-year period, pain was assessed each year using a single question about the presence of pain in any bones or joints during the last year. If affirmative, participants were queried about pain in seven locations (hands, shoulders, neck, back, hips, knees, feet). Participants were categorized according to the percentage of time that pain was present and according to the intermittent or chronic pattern of pain. Factors associated with persistent pain during five remaining years of the study were identified.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Over 6 years, 32% of participants reported pain for three or more consecutive years, and 32% reported pain intermittently. Of those who reported pain the first year, 54% were pain free at least once during the follow-up period. Most of the pain at specific body locations was intermittent. Factors associated with remission of pain over 5 years included older age, male sex, better self-rated health, not being obese, taking fewer medications, and having fewer depressive symptoms. Approximately half of those with pain reported fewer pain locations the following year.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Musculoskeletal pain in older adults, despite high prevalence, is often intermittent. The findings refute the notion that pain is an inevitable, unremitting, or progressive consequence of aging.</p> |
DOI | 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04082.x |
Alternate Journal | J Am Geriatr Soc |
PubMed ID | 22861385 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3633775 |
Grant List | U01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01-HC-55,222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01-HC-75,150 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States AG-023,629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States AG-20,098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01-HC-85,079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States K23 AG032867 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01-HC-35,129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States AG-15,928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States K23 MH093591 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States N01-HC-85,086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01-HC-45,133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States P30 AG028716 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30-AG-028,717 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States K23 AG030986 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 AG023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01-HC-85,239 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01 HC-15,103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States AG-027,058 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |