Open AccessOLDER ADULTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A CLINICAL POPULATION VULNERABLE TO FRAILTY?
Author(s) -
Peter C Coyle,
Jaclyn Megan Sions,
Teonette O. Velasco,
Gregory E. Hicks
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of frailty and aging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.786
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 2273-4309
pISSN - 2260-1341
DOI - 10.14283/jfa.2015.75
Subject(s) - medicine , weakness , gerontology , sarcopenia , population , physical therapy , chronic pain , surgery , environmental health
The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore the differences in proportions of frailty criteria, pre-frailty, and frailty in older adults with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Among individuals with CLBP, we also explored whether the proportions of these outcomes differed based on pain intensity status. Using measures to determine weakness, slowness, and exhaustion, we determined that older adults with CLBP had higher proportions of frailty criteria and were more likely to be classified as pre-frail or frail. Older adults with high intensity CLBP had greater proportions of weakness, exhaustion, and pre-frailty/frailty compared to those with low intensity CLBP. These preliminary findings suggest older adults with CLBP may be at a higher risk for frailty than those without pain; pain intensity may be an important factor in assessing risk of frailty in this population.