Prevalence and correlates of pain interference in older adults: Why treating the whole body and mind is necessary

Abstract

Summary Our study presents pain-related interference rates in a sample of community-dwelling, older adults and determines factors associated with these restrictions. Participants were 9506 respondents to the Biopsychosocial Religion and Health Study (66.8% female and 33.2% male; average age = 62.3 years). In this sample, 48.2% reported no pain-related interference, whereas 37.7% reported moderate and 14.1% reported severe interference. As hypothesized, older age, female gender, lower education, financial strain, traumatic experiences, worse health, increased body mass index, poor sleep, and depressive symptoms all were associated with higher pain interference ratings (ordered logistic regression/three-level pain criterion; odds ratios p < 0.05). Our findings are similar to those from younger adults, and they suggest enduring effects of trauma on health and reveal the complexity of chronic pain in community-dwelling, older adults.

Body Pain Intensity and Interference in Adults (45–53 Years Old): A Cross-Sectional Survey in Chongqing, China

“…Humans are primed to feel pain intensity and express attenuated vulnerability in more intimate social contexts [ 38 ]. Another explanation is that those people who have poor relationships with their families, or were not satisfied with their current living conditions, had immature coping styles and psychological symptoms for a long time to make sub-optimal decisions, and have low passion, especially when they encounter difficulties [ 19 ]. When one has a poor capacity to deal with unfavorable events, the probability of persistent physical pain increases [ 39 ].…”

“…Therefore, a possible implication of observation is that participants with a lower socioeconomic position are more likely to have greater psychopathology and poorer psychiatric treatment response. A previous study also showed that people who have a lower education level and are suffering from economic pressures were more likely to have higher pain interference [ 19 ]. However, people who are more than 56 years old with high education levels and income tend to have lower pain interference [ 41 ].…”

“…This study also found that people who had poor relationships with their family and were not satisfied with their current living conditions were more likely to have a higher body pain interference rating. A previous study showed that older women who are suffering from economic pressures and depressive mood were more likely to have a higher pain interference rating [ 19 ]. Similarly, a study showed that people, particularly women in their fifties and men in their thirties, showed higher pain interference when living with a family member [ 46 ].…”

“…The incidence of chronic pain in rural areas is lower than that in urban areas in China [ 17 ]. Pain interference is associated with age, gender, financial status, experiences, education, employment, poor health and sleep, marital status, and high pain intensity [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. And higher pain interference is also associated with greater psychopathology and poorer psychiatric treatment response [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Expanding access to pain care for frail, older people in primary care: a cross-sectional study

“…It has therefore been recommended to take a more comprehensive approach to pain care for frail older people, one that seriously considers clients’ needs and preferences [ 51 ]. Such an approach should prioritize the optimisation of ADL functioning, and combine pharmacological treatment with nonpharmacological and complementary therapies, such as exercise, massage and mindfulness meditation [ 51 – 54 ]. These recommendations emphasize the need for an assessment that, in addition to pain, explores other domains of functioning (including the social and environmental domain) as well as older people’s personal background, value system and beliefs.…”