Assessing Chronic Pain Among Adults Diagnosed with Diabetes Residing in Rural Appalachia
Brittany L Smalls1, Adebola Adegboyega1, Courtney Ortz1
1University of Kentucky.
Journal of Appalachian Health
|November 13, 2024
Summary
In Appalachian adults with diabetes, higher comorbidity and physical limitations are linked to increased chronic pain. Addressing these factors may improve overall health and well-being in this population.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Chronic Disease Management
- Rural Health
Background:
- Appalachian populations experience high rates of chronic pain, overdose, and comorbidity.
- Chronic pain is a significant issue for individuals with diabetes, particularly in rural areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between comorbidity, disability (physical limitations), and depression with chronic pain.
- Focus on a community-based sample of Appalachian adults diagnosed with diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 356 Appalachian adults (2017-2019).
- Utilized multiple logistic regression to examine associations between key variables.
- Data included sociodemographic, comorbidity, physical limitations, chronic pain, and depression measures.
Main Results:
- Comorbidity (p=.044) and physical limitations (p=.001) were significantly associated with chronic pain.
- Depression showed a trend towards association with chronic pain (p=.06).
- The sample was predominantly non-Hispanic White (98.0%) women (64.6%) with a mean age of 64.2 years.
Conclusions:
- Chronic pain negatively impacts physical and psychosocial health in Appalachian adults with diabetes.
- Interventions targeting comorbidity and physical limitations may alleviate chronic pain.
- Alleviating chronic pain could synergistically benefit the overall health functioning of this population.
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