Long-Term Changes in Musculoskeletal Pain Sites in the General Population: The HUNT Study

Change in number of pain sites - which factors are important? A 12-year prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Pain in multiple body sites is common and often persistent. The purpose of this prospective study was to examine the change in the number of pain sites (NPS) over time and to evaluate to which extent clinical, demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors predict a change in NPS.

METHODS

This was a population-based longitudinal cohort study of adults (n = 2,357). Data on pain, demographic, lifestyle, and health-related variables were collected by questionnaires in 2008 and 2020 and register data from 2006 to 2017. Data was analysed with linear regression.

RESULTS

We found a mean decrease in NPS over the 12-year follow-up period (-0.36 (95% CI; -0.44; -0.27) and 56% of this sample reported no change or only one pain site increase/decrease over 12 years. While participants reporting pain for less than 3 months at baseline had almost no change in NPS (-0.04 (95% CI; -0.18; 0.10)), participants with pain for longer than 3 months decreased by -0.51 (95% CI; -0.62; -0.41). Age at baseline (20-49 years), pain intensity, and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) were associated with an increase in NPS over the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

NPS is relatively stable over time. We found a small mean decrease in NPS over 12 years varying between participants with pain for longer than 3 months and pain for less than 3 months respectively. The results also indicate that pain intensity, age, and obesity could be relevant factors to consider when predicting change in NPS.

Digital mapping of shoulder pain in patients with shoulder disorders: a reliability study

INTRODUCTION

Digital body mapping can be used to document and quantify the area and location (distribution) of pain and discomfort and support assessment, monitoring, and treatment in clinical populations. This study determines the test-retest reliability of drawings detailing pain and pins and needles using digital body charts and their relationship to pain intensity and patient-reported shoulder function.

METHODS

Sixty-two participants with shoulder disorder completed pain and pins and needles drawings with test-retest interval of 30 minutes. Pain intensity in the last week and the patient-reported shoulder function questionnaires were completed. Area and radiating extent were determined using customized software. To assess relative and absolute test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,1), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC95) were calculated. Regression analysis evaluated relation between area and radiating extent of pain and pins and needles with patient-reported function questionnaires.

RESULTS

Relative reliability for pain area and radiating extent was excellent (>0.90). Absolute reliability (SEM and MDC95) values for the pain area and radiating extent were 0.20%/34 pixels and 0.57%/94 pixels. Absolute reliability improves for smaller pain areas. Regression analysis revealed the area and radiation extent for both pain and pins and needles are independent constructs to the patient-reported function outcome when adjusted for pain intensity.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital body mapping assessing pain area and radiation extent in patients with shoulder disorders are reliable. The magnitude of absolute reliability suggests other sources of variability on repeat testing in this population. Pain area and radiation extent appear to be independent constructs.

The bidirectional association between chronic musculoskeletal pain and sleep-related problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes the evidence on prospective bidirectional associations between sleep-related problems (SRP) and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP).

METHODS

A literature search for cohort studies available in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases as of 19 July 2022 was performed. Pooled odds ratios and effect sizes were calculated through random effects meta-analysis. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore differences by follow-up time, proportion of each sex and mean age. The Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were strictly followed.

RESULTS

Twenty studies with a total of 208 190 adults (aged 34.4-71.7 years) were included, with 17 of them being used in the meta-analysis. Individuals with SRP at baseline had a 1.79-fold higher incidence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.55, 2.08; I2 = 84.7%; P < 0.001) and a 2.04-fold higher persistence (OR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.42, 2.94; I2 = 88.5%; P < 0.005) of CMP than those without SRP. In the subgroup analysis of the association between SRP and CMP, the longer the follow-up time of the studies, the higher the heterogeneity between them. In the corresponding meta-regression, no significant effect was observed for follow-up time, sex proportion or age. Individuals with CMP at baseline had a 2.02-fold higher incidence of SRP (OR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.62, 2.53; I2 = 90.0%; P < 0.001) than those without CMP.

CONCLUSION

This study provides robust evidence concerning the longitudinal association between SRP and incidence-persistence of CMP in adults. In addition, the available prospective studies support the existence of a bidirectional relationship between CMP and SRP.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020212360.

Job stress and chronic and widespread musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional analysis from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health Musculoskeletal

ABSTRACT

Musculoskeletal pain is a global health concern, and work-related psychosocial stress might be a potential contributing factor. This cross-sectional study investigates whether job stress is associated with chronic and widespread musculoskeletal pain in 2051 Brazilian active civil servants included in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health Musculoskeletal (ELSA-Brasil MSK). Job stress was assessed using the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire. Associations between ERI domains, categorized into tertiles, and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) at any site and per number of affected sites (0, 1-2, ≥3-multisite pain) and body regions (0, 1-2, 3-generalized pain), were investigated using binary and multinomial logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic, occupational, and health covariates. The prevalence of CMP at any site, multisites, and generalized regions was 52.9%, 18.2%, and 9.5%, respectively. After adjustments, the lower the reward and the greater the overcommitment, the higher the odds of CMP at any site. The ERI domains were more strongly associated with multisite and generalized CMP than with CMP at any site. Multisite CMP was associated with lower reward and with greater effort, overcommitment, and effort-reward imbalance ratio. Chronic musculoskeletal pain according to body regions, especially generalized pain, was also associated with ERI domains effort (OR = 2.06; 95%CI = 1.33-3.21), overcommitment (OR = 3.44; 95%CI = 2.20-5.39), and effort-reward imbalance ratio (OR = 2.06; 95%CI = 1.30-3.27). Results reveal an association between job stress not only with CMP at any site but notably with the pain spread to other body sites or regions. Our findings suggest that lowering stress at work and discouraging overcommitment may help reduce the CMP burden, including reduction of CMP spread from one site or region of the body to another.

Multisite musculoskeletal pain in the general population: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies focusing on multisite musculoskeletal pain have revealed that the prevalence of multisite pain is high in general populations.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the prevalence of multisite musculoskeletal pain in the last 12 months and in the last seven days, in a population-based sample and investigate its association with demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, reported morbidity and ergonomic variables.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional population-based survey in Bauru, São Paulo (Brazil).

METHODS

600 individuals were interviewed. The following data were collected: participants' characteristics, through a precoded questionnaire; physical activity level, through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; and musculoskeletal symptoms, through the Nordic questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariate and Poisson regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of multisite musculoskeletal pain was 46.5% (confidence interval, CI 42.5 to 50.5) in the last 12 months and 26.1% (CI 22.8 to 29.8) in the last seven days. The variables associated with multisite pain in the last 12 months were female sex, presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus or depression, watching TV more than three times a week and working in a seated position. Formerly smoking was a protection factor. The variables associated with multisite pain in the last seven days were female sex, age group 60 years and over, low income, presence of comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes mellitus or depression and working in a seated position.

CONCLUSION

There was high prevalence of multisite musculoskeletal pain, which was associated with demographic, socioeconomic, work-related, electronic device-related and reported morbidity variables.

Reduction in Pain and Pain Intensity with Nonpharmacological Treatment in Severely Obese Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of two nonpharmacological interventions-traditional Brazilian diet (DieTBra), and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)-in terms of the reduction in pain and pain intensity in individuals with severe obesity. We conducted a 12-week parallel randomized clinical trial with 149 individuals (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2) who were randomized into three groups: supplementation with EVOO (n = 50), DieTBra (n = 49), and EVOO + DieTBra (n = 50). Of the total, 133 individuals with a mean BMI of 46.04 kg/m2 completed the study. By the end of the follow-up, there was a reduction in severe pain in the EVOO + DieTBra group (p = 0.003). There was a significant reduction in severe pain in the EVOO + DieTBra group (-22.7%); pain in the wrist and hand (-14.1%), upper back (-26.9%), and knees (-18.4%) in the DieTBra group; and reduction in hip pain (-11.1%) with EVOO consumption. We conclude that EVOO and DieTBra, either alone or in combination, are effective interventions to reduce pain intensity and pain in different regions in individuals with severe obesity, and have great potential for clinical application.

Pain acceptance and its impact on function and symptoms in fibromyalgia

Objectives Fibromyalgia is a chronic widespread pain (CWP) syndrome of unknown etiology with substantial burden of illness and functional impairment. Pain acceptance has emerged as an interesting target of therapy in chronic pain populations, but few studies have yet been done on the effect of pain acceptance on patients with fibromyalgia. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between pain acceptance and its impact on function and symptoms in fibromyalgia with both a cross-sectional and longitudinal design. Methods Three hundred and sixty five participants aged 22-70 with fibromyalgia were recruited from the Norwegian Fibromyalgia Association (NFA). They filled out a questionnaire containing the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), measurement of function and symptoms, and Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), measurement of pain acceptance, in addition to sociodemographic and clinical variables such as degree of fibromyalgia, depression and pain duration (T1 measures). One year after, 87 of the participants filled out the FIQ and clinical measures once again (T2 measures). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses were performed both for cross-sectional measures at T1 and for longitudinal measures from T1 to T2, with FIQ score as the outcome variable and CPAQ score at T1 as one of the main independent variables. Results Higher CPAQ score was significantly associated with a lower FIQ score at T1, also when adjusting for age, education, work, depression and Fibromyalgianess Score (p<0.01). Lower FIQ score indicate less impact of fibromyalgia on functioning. In addition, two adjusted linear regression models found higher pain acceptance (CPAQ score) at T1 to be associated with lower negative impact of fibromyalgia on function and symptoms (FIQ score) at T2 (p<0.01). Conclusions Higher pain acceptance is associated with better functional level and less symptoms in fibromyalgia, both cross-sectionally and when measurements are separated in time. Further research should include experimental studies with acceptance-based interventions for this patient group.

Dose-response associations of clinical markers of obesity and duration of exposure to excess weight with chronic musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional analysis at baseline of ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal cohort

The objective of this study is to investigate the association of clinical markers of obesity and weight trajectories with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). This is a cross-sectional study using baseline data from ELSA-Brasil MSK cohort. CMP was evaluated at nine body sites (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, lower back, wrists/hands, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet), and defined as pain lasting > 6 months in the past year. General and abdominal obesity levels were classified according to accepted cut-offs for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-height ratio (WHtR). Binomial and multinomial logistic regressions tested for associations with CMP at any site, at ≥ 3 sites (multisite) and in upper + lower limbs + axial skeleton (generalized). A total of 2899 participants (mean age 56.0 ± 8.93) were included, 55.0% reported CMP, 19.1% had multisite, and 10.3% had generalized CMP. After adjustments for sex, age, education, physical activity and depressive symptoms, nearly all the investigated markers of obesity were associated with any CMP, multisite and generalized CMP, with strongest associations being observed for general obesity level II/III: OR 2.08 (95% CI 1.45-2.99), OR 3.19 (95% CI 2.06-4.94) and OR 3.65 (2.18-6.11), respectively. Having excess weight currently or both at age 20 and currently was also associated with all CMP presentations. Associations of greater magnitude were consistently observed at higher obesity levels and longer exposures to excess weight (dose-response). These results may support the contribution of obesity-derived mechanical and inflammatory mechanisms of CMP, and indicate a role for the accumulation of exposure to excess weight across the adult life course.

Hypertension prevalence in patients attending tertiary pain management services, a registry-based Australian cohort study

Persistent pain and hypertension often co-occur, and share several biological and lifestyle risk factors. The present study aimed to provide insight into the prevalence of, and factors associated with, hypertension in the largest cohort of patients seeking treatment in 43 tertiary pain clinics in Australia. Adults aged > = 18 years registered to the electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration registry between 2013 and 2018 were included if they had persistent non-cancer pain (N = 43,789). Risk Ratios (RRs) compared prevalence of self-reported hypertension with the general and primary care Australian populations, and logistic regression examined factors associated with hypertension. One in four (23.9%) patients had hypertension, which was higher than the Australian adult population (2014–15: RR = 5.86, 95%CI: 5.66, 6.06; 2017–18: RR = 9.40, 95%CI: 9.01, 9.80), and in primary care patients (2011–13: RR = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.15, 1.20). Adjusting for covariates, patients with higher odds of hypertension were older, lived in regions with higher socioeconomic disadvantage, had higher levels of BMI, were born outside the Oceania/Australasia region, and had comorbid arthritis, diabetes, or severe-extremely severe anxiety symptoms. Female patients and those with depression symptoms had lower adjusted odds. Unadjusted analyses showed an association between widespread pain, pain duration, pain severity and interference, and lower pain self-efficacy with hypertension; however, only pain severity remained significant in adjusted analyses. Hypertension was more prevalent in people with persistent pain than in the general community, was associated with more severe pain, and commonly co-occurred with pain-related impairments. Routine hypertension screening and treatment targeting shared mechanisms of hypertension and pain may improve treatment outcomes in the pain clinic setting.

Parental Multisite Chronic Pain and the Risk of Adult Offspring Developing Additional Chronic Pain Sites: Family-Linkage Data From the Norwegian HUNT Study

We investigated if parental multisite chronic pain increases the risk of adult offspring developing additional chronic pain sites, and if offspring body mass index (BMI) and leisure time physical activity modify this association. We used longitudinal data on 7,654 offspring linked with their parents who participated in the population-based HUNT Study (Norway) in 1995 to 1997 and 2006 to 2008. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). One-third of offspring (n = 2,573) developed additional chronic pain sites. Having both parents with 1-2 chronic pain sites increased the risk of developing additional pain sites compared to having parents free of chronic pain (OR = 1.33; 95% CI 1.05-1.68), with larger effects observed when both parents had ≥3 chronic pain sites (OR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.17-1.82). These associations were largely driven by maternal pain, that is, there was no association between paternal chronic pain and risk of additional pain sites in offspring. The parent-offspring transfer of additional pain sites (when both parents had ≥3 pain sites) strengthened when offspring were obese (OR = 2.56; 95% CI 1.75-3.75) or physically inactive (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.33-2.27). In conclusion, parental multisite chronic pain increases the risk of offspring developing additional chronic pain sites, particularly those with obesity or inactivity. PERSPECTIVE: This longitudinal analysis investigated the parent-offspring transmission of multisite chronic pain, and whether lifestyle behaviors in offspring modify this association. The findings suggest that having parents with multisite chronic pain increases the risk of offspring developing additional chronic pain sites, particularly if offspring are obese or inactive.

The Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Picky Eating: The Role of Negative Self-Labeling

Introduction

Picky eating appears to be associated with poor health outcomes and thus it might have a role in musculoskeletal pain in adults. However, this relationship has not been investigated yet. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the number of musculoskeletal pain regions was associated with picky eating, which was characterized by food intake balance of familiar products or self-identification.

Methods

A total of 4660 adult subjects were enrolled in this study. Picky eating was assessed in two ways; a countable score and self-identification of picky eating. For the countable score, the number of food items, which the subjects usually did not consume among a list of 11 familiar products was measured. Self-identification as a picky eater was defined through a single question. The presence of musculoskeletal pain; in the neck, low back, knee, back, or arm, within 2 months of the survey was also identified.

Results

Of all subjects, 2654 (56%) had musculoskeletal pain in at least one region. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in every region was seen as consistently higher in subjects who self-identified as picky eaters than those who were non-picky eaters. In multiple linear regression analysis, the number of pain regions was significantly associated with older age, females, self-identification as a picky eater, and low body weight, not but the countable score.

Conclusions

There may be an association between musculoskeletal pain and negative beliefs about one’s own eating behaviors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40122-019-0116-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Is a Fundamental Change in the Interpretation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Necessary?

Disease Activity Score (DAS) composite models are moderately precise and robust measures of disease severity when they are used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohorts. They are less so when used for individual patients. This is because subjective components, patient global assessment of well-being and tender joint count, modified by factors other than RA biological disease activity, often obfuscate interpretation of disease activity. Comorbidities, especially distress, can disproportionately inflate these components. Fibromyalgia, essentially synonymous with distress, pain augmentation, and depression, is a common comorbidity. Its presence and severity can be determined by the Polysymptomatic Distress Scale (PSD). The differential effects of distress and fibromyalgia syndrome on the DAS can be demonstrated by manipulating information already there: the arithmetic differences or ratios of the tender joint count and swollen joint count and comparison of the modified disease activity score with 28 joints to the disease activity score with 28 joints-patient (DAS28-derived indices that measure the contribution of the relatively objective or relatively subjective components, respectively). The potentially more objective multibiomarker disease activity might also be used to test the severity of biological RA disease activity. These tools may be used to elucidate disproportionate values for subjective DAS model components, which then should facilitate identification of the underlying process factors, including depression, for potential treatment.

Distinct pain profiles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Few studies have examined changes in the pain experience of patients with COPD and predictors of pain in these patients.

Objectives

The objectives of the study were to examine whether distinct groups of COPD patients could be identified based on changes in the occurrence and severity of pain over 12 months and to evaluate whether these groups differed on demographic, clinical, and pain characteristics, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Patients and methods

A longitudinal study of 267 COPD patients with very severe COPD was conducted. Their mean age was 63 years, and 53% were females. The patients completed questionnaires including demographic and clinical variables, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire at enrollment, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months follow-up. In addition, spirometry and the 6 Minute Walk Test were performed. Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups of patients with distinct pain profiles based on pain occurrence and worst pain severity.

Results

Most of the patients (77%) reported pain occurrence over 12 months. Of these, 48% were in the "high probability of pain" group, while 29% were in the "moderate probability of pain" group. For the worst pain severity, 37% were in the "moderate pain" and 39% were in the "mild pain" groups. Females and those with higher body mass index, higher number of comorbidities, and less education were in the pain groups. Patients in the higher pain groups reported higher pain interference scores, higher number of pain locations, and more respiratory symptoms. Few differences in HRQoL were found between the groups except for the symptom subscale.

Conclusion

Patients with COPD warrant comprehensive pain management. Clinicians may use this information to identify those who are at higher risk for persistent pain.

Insomnia Really Hurts: Effect of a Bad Night's Sleep on Pain Increases With Insomnia Severity

Insomnia and chronic pain are highly prevalent conditions and are often comorbid. Somatic complaints other than pain are also often observed in insomnia. Poor sleep and pain are known to mutually reinforce each other. However, it is unknown whether the habitual severity of insomnia modulates the acute effect of a particularly bad night's sleep on the next day's pain severity, and whether it modulates the acute effect of pain on the following night's sleep quality. Using data from 3,508 volunteers (2,684 female, mean age 50.09 y), we addressed these questions in addition to the associations between the habitual severity of insomnia, somatic complaints, and pain. Results indicated that people suffering from more severe habitual insomnia showed stronger mutual acute within-day reactivity of pain and poor sleep quality. The same increased reactivity was found in people with more severe habitual pain. Interestingly, the acute within-day mutual reactivity of pain and sleep quality showed consistent asymmetry. Pain worsened more after a particularly bad night's sleep than it improved after a particularly good night's sleep. Likewise, sleep worsened more after a day with more-than-usual pain than it improved after a day with less-than-usual pain. Future interventions may profit from addressing this asymmetric mutual reactivity especially in people with severe comorbid insomnia and chronic pain.

A cross-sectional study of factors associated with the number of anatomical pain sites in an actual elderly general population: results from the PainS65+ cohort

BACKGROUND

Several studies have illustrated that multisite pain is more frequent than single pain site, and it is associated with an array of negative consequences. However, there is limited knowledge available about the potential factors associated with multisite pain in the elderly general population.

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional study examines whether the number of anatomical pain sites (APSs) is related to sociodemographic and health-related factors in older adults including oldest-old ages using a new method (APSs) to assess the location of pain on the body.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sample came from the PainS65+ cohort, which included 6,611 older individuals (mean age = 76.0 years; standard deviation [SD] = 7.4) residing in southeastern Sweden. All the participants completed and returned a postal survey that measured sociodemographic data, total annual income, pain intensity and frequency, general well-being, and quality of life. The number of pain sites (NPS) was marked on a body manikin of 45 sections, and a total of 23 APSs were then calculated. Univariable and multivariable models of regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Approximately 39% of the respondents had at least two painful sites. The results of the regression analysis showed an independent association between the APSs and the age group of 75-79 years, women, married, high pain intensity and frequency, and low well-being and quality of life, after adjustments for consumption of analgesics and comorbidities. The strongest association was observed for the higher frequency of pain.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that APSs are highly prevalent with strong relationships with various sociodemographic and health-related factors and concur well with the notion that multisite pain is a potential indicator of increased pain severity and impaired quality of life in the elderly. Our comprehensive method of calculating the number of sites could be an essential part of the clinical presentation, assessment, and treatment of multisite pain.