Association between chronic musculoskeletal pain and executive function in community‐dwelling older adults. (18th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Murata, S.; Sawa, R.; Nakatsu, N.; Saito, T.; Sugimoto, T.; Nakamura, R.; Misu, S.; Ueda, Y.; Ono, R.
• Is Part Of: European journal of pain. Volume 21:Number 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1717
• Page End: 1722
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18
• Subjects: Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Pain -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-3801

Abstract

Abstract: Background: We examined the association of chronic musculoskeletal pain with executive function in community‐dwelling older adults. Method: This cross‐sectional study recruited 234 community‐dwelling older adults in Japan (mean age: 72.7, women: 62.8%). Chronic musculoskeletal pain was defined as having moderate or more severe pain lasting ≥ 3 months. Executive function was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) parts A and B, Letter Verbal Fluency Test (LVFT) and Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT). Results: Prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain was 19% ( n = 44). In the univariate analysis, the DSST and CVFT scores were significantly lower in the chronic musculoskeletal pain group than in the control group (DSST: chronic musculoskeletal pain group vs. control group, 40.2 vs. 45.4, respectively, p < 0.05; CVFT: 13.7 vs. 15.6, respectively, p < 0.05), whereas the TMT parts A and B and LVFT scores were not. The multivariate linear regression models adjusted for covariates showed that the chronic musculoskeletal pain group had significantly lower DSST (adjusted β = –0.13, p < 0.05) and CVFT scores (adjusted β = –0.17, p < 0.05) than the control group. Conclusion: Chronic musculoskeletal pain may interfere with the elements of executive function, processing speed and semantic fluency, in community‐dwelling older adults. The association of chronic musculoskeletal pain with executive function requires further investigation. Significance: Our results suggest an association between moderate‐severe chronic musculoskeletal pain and impairments of semantic fluency and processing speed in community‐dwelling older adults.