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Musculoskeletal pain and use of analgesics in relation to mobility limitation among community‐dwelling persons aged 75 years and older
Author(s) -
Karttunen N.,
Lihavainen K.,
Sipilä S.,
Rantanen T.,
Sulkava R.,
Hartikainen S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejpain.2011.05.013
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , confidence interval , musculoskeletal pain , logistic regression , physical therapy , affect (linguistics) , analgesic , odds , population , chronic pain , cross sectional study , psychology , anesthesia , environmental health , communication , pathology
Pain and factors related to it constitute serious health problems in the older population. This populationbased cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate whether musculoskeletal pain is associated with mobility limitation and whether the relationship between pain and mobility limitation varies according to the use of analgesics among community‐dwelling older people. A total of 622 community‐dwelling participants aged 75 years and older (mean age 80.4, 74% women) were interviewed about presence and severity of musculoskeletal pain. Self‐reported analgesic drug utilization was verified against medical records. Mobility limitation was assessed by the Timed Up & Go test ( TUG ) time of >13.5 s or inability to perform the test. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the pain‐affect associations, with associations expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals ( CI ). After adjustment for several covariates, musculoskeletal pain remained independently associated with mobility limitation (odds ratio = 1.83; 95% CI 1.16, 2.89). The risk of mobility limitation was highest among those who reported severe or moderate pain (1.84; 1.13, 3.13) and among those who used analgesics (2.37; 1.37, 4.11). In conclusion, musculoskeletal pain increases the risk for mobility limitation. The present findings underline the importance of the careful assessment and pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of pain in promoting mobility in older age.