Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain Are Associated with Long-term Declined Physical Quality of Life and Knee-related Quality of Life in Older Adults Knee OA 8266

Abstract

Objectives

To examine the longitudinal impact of multisite musculoskeletal pain (MMP) on the physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with or at risk of experiencing knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design

Longitudinal study.

Setting

Multiple sites.

Participants

This study employed a prospective longitudinal design with over 8 years of follow-up. Data from 4796 participants aged 45-79 years were obtained from the OA initiative.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

This research mainly focused on assessing the HRQOL, which was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 12 (SF-12) at various times over 7 visits across a period of up to 96 months. We employed the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) for knee-related QOL. The KOOS, a self-reported measure of knee outcomes, included 42 items. The KOOS covers 5 subscales: pain, symptoms, activities of daily living function, sport and recreation function, and knee-related QOL. This study employed the KOOS for knee-related QOL subscale. It consisted of 4 items. This subscale was normalized into a 0-100 score, with a higher score indicating better health status. Multisite pain was examined using a self-report questionnaire at 20 sites.

Results

The results showed that participants with one painful site (Beta [B]=−0.92, P=.01), 2 painful sites (B=−1.94, P<.001), and multiple painful sites (≥3) (B=−4.68, P<.001) were significantly associated with decreased composite score for the physical HRQOL over time compared with those with no painful site at baseline after adjusting for covariates. However, there was no significant association with the decline in mental HRQOL over time. All multisite pain categories were associated with worse overtime symptoms in knee-related QOL using KOOS including one painful site (B=−6.97, P<.001), 2 painful sites (B=−9.96, P<.001), and multiple painful sites (≥3) (B=−17.56, P<.001) after controlling for covariates.

Conclusions

This study revealed that baseline MMP was linked to declining physical QOL and knee-related QOL among individuals with or at risk of experiencing knee OA. Moreover, baseline multisite pain and 2 painful sites were associated with a decline in physical QOL and KOOS of QOL, whereas mental HRQOL was not significantly associated with multisite pain. Therefore, it is imperative for primary health care settings to prioritize the assessment of MMP and develop interventions aimed at preserving and enhancing physical HRQOL in people with or at risk of experiencing OA.

Disclosures

none.