Pain factors associated with physical disability in a sample of community-dwelling senior citizens

Little is known about the specific aspects of pain that may contribute to the association between pain and disability. This study investigated whether the presence of a physical disability is associated with specific aspects of musculoskeletal pain.

Questionnaires sent to a sample of community-dwelling seniors included detailed questions about pain; the topics covered pain intensity, frequency, duration and location, use of pain medication, cause of pain, physical disability, depressive symptoms, chronic conditions, and demographic information.

Of the 885 respondents, 644 reported musculoskeletal pain (mean age = 75.85 years, SD = 5.83; 63.2% men vs 36.8% women). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that pain of severe or greater intensity was shown to be significantly associated with disability (odds ratio [OR] = 4.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.01 and 9.01, respectively). Pain experienced all or nearly all of the time (OR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.07 and 3.72) and taking pain medication (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.08 and 2.5 1) were also shown to be associated with disability. The number of pain locations reported by the respondents was also shown to be significantly associated with disability. The OR for the mean number of pain locations (5.8 locations out of a possible 45) was calculated to be 2.12 (95% CI 1.43 and 3.16).

A thorough pain evaluation and appropriate management of certain aspects of pain may aid in the independent functioning of elderly persons.