Arthritis symptoms as indicators of pain in older African Americans

Pain may affect racial and ethnic populations differently, while diminishing their physical and psychological health. Research also shows that the prevalence of pain is increasing in older Americans, yet few studies have examined factors associated with pain in older community-dwelling African Americans. This study examined the relationship between pain intensity, specific arthritis symptoms, and various demographic characteristics (eg, age, gender, education) as well as psychosocial factors (eg, depression) in a sample of older African Americans (N=176). Participants were older community-dwelling African Americans with a mean age of 70.1+/-9.01 years. Pain located in the knee(s) (77%) was the most frequently reported pain location. Joint pain (95%) was the most frequently reported arthritis symptom. The multivariate analysis showed that reporting more depressive symptoms and experiencing limited joint movement were significant indicators of pain intensity and accounted for 31% of its variation. The results of this study reinforce the importance of examining the relationship between pain, psychosocial factors, and demographic characteristics among older African Americans. Furthermore, this study identifies the need for continued research on the relationship between pain and various social and psychological factors in racially and ethnically diverse aging populations.