Accumulation of long‐term diseases is associated with musculoskeletal pain dimensions among middle‐aged individuals with musculoskeletal pain

• Published in: European Journal of Pain
• Main Authors: Heikkala, Eveliina, Oura, Petteri, Ho, Emma, Ferreira, Paulo, Paananen, Markus, Karppinen, Jaro
• Other Authors: Oulun Yliopisto, European Regional Development Fund
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2023
• Subjects: Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejp.2070; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ejp.2070; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/ejp.2070

Abstract Background Long‐term diseases often co‐occur with musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. In middle‐aged individuals with MSK pain, it remains unclear whether an accumulation (two or more) of long‐term diseases is associated with MSK pain dimensions, including pain frequency, bothersomeness of pain, pain intensity and number of pain sites. Methods This cross‐sectional study included data from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 collected in 2012–2014 when the participants were 46 years of age. We included participants who reported having MSK pain during the previous year (collected retrospectively) and provided self‐reported information related to MSK pain dimensions, long‐term diseases and potential confounders ( n = 4469). The association between long‐term diseases and pain dimensions was modelled by general linear and logistic regression models, with beta ( β ) coefficients, odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) being presented. Unadjusted models were followed by models adjusted for sex, educational level and smoking. Results The presence of accumulated long‐term diseases was associated with over two‐fold higher odds of daily pain (adjusted OR 2.6, 95% CI 2.0–3.4) and significantly higher levels of bothersomeness of pain and pain intensity (adjusted β 1.1, 95% CI 0.9–1.4; adjusted β 1.0, 95% CI 0.8–1.1, respectively), relative to the absence of long‐term diseases. Females with accumulated long‐term diseases had a stronger relationship to number of pain sites than males. Associations between one long‐term disease and pain dimensions were significant but smaller in magnitude. Conclusion There is a need for a better understanding of the relationships between accumulated long‐term diseases and MSK pain. Significance This study on middle‐aged individuals with musculoskeletal pain showed that the presence of long‐term diseases was clearly associated with pain frequency, bothersomeness of pain, pain intensity and number of pain sites. Compared with no long‐term diseases, the association between ...