Relationship between persistent pain and 5-year mortality: a population-based prospective cohort study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
• Pain Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Noncancer pain is prevalent in older adults.
• The association between self-reported pain and mortality in this demographic requires further investigation.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for geriatric care and public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-reported noncancer pain and 5-year mortality in community-dwelling older adults.
• To explore potential sex differences in this association.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study design was employed using data from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (1996 wave).
• Participants included community-dwelling older adults.
• Noncancer pain was assessed using a 5-point verbal descriptor scale. 5-year mortality was determined via the Registrar of Vital Statistics. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were utilized.

Main Results:

• Of 4,694 participants with complete data, 35.4% reported moderate to very severe pain, and 28.6% died within 5 years.
• Individuals reporting moderate to very severe pain had lower odds of 5-year mortality (OR=0.78, 95% CI=0.66-0.92) and a lower risk of death (HR=0.85, 95% CI=0.75-0.96).
• An interaction between pain and sex was observed: women with pain had significantly lower mortality risk compared to men, while pain status did not significantly affect mortality risk in men.

Conclusions:

• Older women experiencing noncancer pain exhibited a lower likelihood of 5-year mortality compared to women without pain, and both men with and without pain.
• The findings suggest a complex, sex-specific relationship between noncancer pain and mortality in older adults.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this observed association.