Opioid Use Predicts Self-Reported Mobility in Older Adults with Chronic Lower Back Pain

Abstract

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) prevalence increases with advancing age and is a leading contributor to mobility disability among older adults. Opioids are commonly prescribed treatments to reduce pain related symptoms. The rise in opioid use and misuse can enhance a variety of issues in the adult population; such as, lack of mobility and decrease in overall health and wellbeing. Few studies have examined the impact of opioid use on mobility in older adults with cLBP. Therefore, we sought to examine the relationship between self-reported opioid use and self-reported mobility. cLBP participants (n = 140) completed a series of questionnaires regarding pain intensity, interference, and disability including demographics, clinical pain assessment, and the Brief Pain Inventory-Short form. Pearson's chi-square tests, and regression-based analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26.0. Among cLBP participants, those who self-reported opioid use were more likely to have greater self-reported difficulty climbing stairs (χ2 = 16.6, p