Association Between Circadian Rhythm Syndrome and Physical Pain in China

Circadian rhythm syndrome (CircS) is a complex syndrome caused by biological rhythm disruption and is closely associated with the onset of numerous diseases. This study aimed to explore the association between CircS and physical pain, providing important clues and a scientific basis for the development of pain prevention strategies.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the 2011-2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

The association between CircS and the risk of developing physical pain was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Restricted Cubic Splines (RCS) were employed to examine linear or nonlinear relationships between the number of CircS components and the risk of physical pain events. Assessed the robustness of the results using sensitivity analyses, such as subgroup analyses and interaction analyses.

The longitudinal study included 5,388 participants, of whom 3,296 experienced pain events during follow-up. Results indicated that participants with CircS had a higher risk of physical pain than those without CircS (hazard ratio: 1.203, 95% confidence interval: 1.113, 1.300, p < .001). Interaction analysis demonstrated that CircS, smoking, and active social participation exhibited a significant interaction in their effects on physical pain.

CircS increased the risk of developing physical pain. Addressing circadian rhythm disorders and maintaining metabolic homeostasis were crucial for preventing and delaying the onset of physical pain.

This study provides important clues and a scientific basis for the clinical application of "circadian rhythm-pain" management.