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Persistence and remission of musculoskeletal pain in community-dwelling older adults: results from the cardiovascular health study.

TitlePersistence and remission of musculoskeletal pain in community-dwelling older adults: results from the cardiovascular health study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsThielke, SM, Whitson, H, Diehr, P, O'Hare, A, Kearney, PM, Chaudhry, SI, Zakai, NA, Kim, D, Sekaran, N, Sale, JEM, Arnold, AM, Chaves, P, Newman, A
JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Volume60
Issue8
Pagination1393-400
Date Published2012 Aug
ISSN1532-5415
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Humans, Male, Musculoskeletal Pain, Remission Induction, Residence Characteristics
Abstract<p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To characterize longitudinal patterns of musculoskeletal pain in a community sample of older adults over a 6-year period and to identify factors associated with persistence of pain.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>Secondary analysis of the Cardiovascular Health Study.</p><p><b>SETTING: </b>Community-based cohort drawn from four U.S. counties.</p><p><b>PARTICIPANTS: </b>Five thousand ninety-three men and women aged 65 and older.</p><p><b>MEASUREMENTS: </b>Over a 6-year period, pain was assessed each year using a single question about the presence of pain in any bones or joints during the last year. If affirmative, participants were queried about pain in seven locations (hands, shoulders, neck, back, hips, knees, feet). Participants were categorized according to the percentage of time that pain was present and according to the intermittent or chronic pattern of pain. Factors associated with persistent pain during five remaining years of the study were identified.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Over 6 years, 32% of participants reported pain for three or more consecutive years, and 32% reported pain intermittently. Of those who reported pain the first year, 54% were pain free at least once during the follow-up period. Most of the pain at specific body locations was intermittent. Factors associated with remission of pain over 5 years included older age, male sex, better self-rated health, not being obese, taking fewer medications, and having fewer depressive symptoms. Approximately half of those with pain reported fewer pain locations the following year.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Musculoskeletal pain in older adults, despite high prevalence, is often intermittent. The findings refute the notion that pain is an inevitable, unremitting, or progressive consequence of aging.</p>
DOI10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04082.x
Alternate JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
PubMed ID22861385
PubMed Central IDPMC3633775
Grant ListU01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-55,222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-75,150 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG-023,629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AG-20,098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85,079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
K23 AG032867 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-35,129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG-15,928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K23 MH093591 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85,086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-45,133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028716 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30-AG-028,717 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K23 AG030986 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85,239 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC-15,103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG-027,058 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States