Musculoskeletal Pain Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Survey

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the MSK pain prevalence and incidence and identify factors associated with MSK pain among older adults over a 1-year follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This longitudinal telesurvey recruited community-dwelling older adults (less than or equal to 65 years) in Hamilton, Canada. MSK pain prevalence and incidence were calculated. Multilevel negative binomial and ordered logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the number of pain sites (0 to 7 pain sites), and most intense pain (no, mild, moderate, and severe pain). RESULTS: We included 247 participants. Pain prevalence ranged between 64% at baseline to 73% at one year. The interaction of mental health by time as well as age and mobility were associated with the number of pain sites. Being older (IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94 to 0.98) and having better mobility (IRR 0.96; 0.95 to 0.96) were associated with lower number of pain sites. Having better mental health was associated with higher numbers of pain sites at 6- (IRR 1.58, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.37), 9- (IRR 1.55, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.34), and 12-months follow-ups (IRR 1.66, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.53). Sex, BMI and interactions of age by time, mobility by time, and mental health by time interaction were associated with the most intense pain. Being male (OR 0.87; 0.82 to 0.93) and having a greater BMI (OR 1.07; 1.00 to 1.14) were associated with lower and higher pain intensity, respectively. Being older (OR 1.09; 1.01 to 1.18) and having better mobility (OR 1.06; 1.01 to 1.11) were associated with higher pain intensity at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Older adults were found to have high MSK pain prevalence, however, there was not a significant increase over time. Our results demonstrated that mobility, age, BMI, sex, and mental health are important factors associated with MSK pain in older adults.