Predictors of Mental Health Status among Older United States Adults with Pain

Fall experiences from the perspectives of people with osteoarthritis: in their own words

PURPOSE

To explore real-life experiences of people with osteoarthritis (OA) to increase understanding of how they perceive contributing factors to falls, circumstances at time of falls, and consequences of falls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four focus groups of 3-7 people with OA from the Chicago, IL, USA, and neighboring areas were conducted remotely via web-based videoconferencing. Inclusion criteria included history of falls in previous 12 months and hip and/or knee OA. Focus group transcripts were coded and analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach to identify themes.

RESULTS

Focus group participants (n = 17) described experiences associated with fall-related events that resulted in the identification of four themes: (1) perception of falls and fall risks can be influenced by OA symptoms, (2) ability to remember circumstances of falls are influenced by consequences, (3) behaviors and attitudes that address OA symptoms and avoidance of falls are similar and (4) OA symptoms and falls have common psychological impacts on lives.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights how people with OA define falls, perceive contributing factors to falls, and describe general and OA-related factors that contributed to their fall experiences. The shared experiences contributed to the creation of themes that represented various aspects of the circumstances and impact of falls. Consideration for the identified themes may enhance recording and reporting of falls, contribute to development of improved fall risk assessment tools, and prioritize research into the biopsychosocial effects of falls in people with OA.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONInformation about circumstances of a fall such as location, activity, and symptoms of osteoarthritis may be beneficial in creating tailored fall prevention training and education.Falls are a common problem for people with lower limb osteoarthritis that can lead to negative changes in activity and quality of life.The psychological impact of osteoarthritis symptoms may be contributing to fear of falling and decrease participation in daily activities.Awareness of the perceptions people with osteoarthritis have about their symptoms may provide educational and training opportunities to address the benefits of different therapeutic treatments.Awareness of perceptions people with osteoarthritis have about their risk of falling may provide educational and training opportunities to address the benefits of different therapeutic treatments.

Correlation of Positive Psychological Health among US Adults (Aged ≥ 50 Years) with Pain and Documented Opioid Treatment

In this study, we aimed to identify the factors correlated with positive psychological health among United States older adults (≥50 years) with pain and documented opioid treatment. This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized a nationally representative dataset (Medical Expenditure Panel Survey). A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to assess the correlation of positive psychological health in the eligible population. The logistic regression model showed having excellent/very good/good (versus fair/poor) perceived health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.062; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.383, 15.254) had a statistically significant correlation with positive psychological health among the eligible population. This finding offers important insights for clinicians and policymakers to consider when formulating approaches to better manage the psychological health of United States older adults with pain and documented opioid treatment.

Health-related quality of life in older women with injuries: a nationwide study

Objectives

This study aims to describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and influencing factors of older women who experienced injuries.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis of data from 4,217 women aged 65 years or older sampled from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (2016-2020) database. Two-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the data.

Results

The mean HRQoL scores of older women with and without injuries were 0.81 ± 0.19 (n = 328) and 0.85 ± 0.17 (n = 3,889), respectively, which were significantly different (p < 0.001). The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that working, physical activity, BMI, osteoarthritis, stress, and subjective health status significantly affected the HRQoL of older women with injuries, and the explanatory power of the model was 29%.

Conclusion

The results of this study on factors affecting HRQoL can contribute to the understanding of the experience of older women with injuries and can be used as a reference to develop health promotion programs.

Social determinants of health and physical activity are related to pain intensity and mental health in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy of the upper limb and a frequent cause of disability.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between social determinants of health (SDH) and physical activity with pain intensity and mental health in patients with CTS.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with CTS awaiting surgery in two public hospitals in Chile.

METHODS

The SDH collected included: employment status, educational level and monetary income. The level of physical activity was defined according to compliance with WHO recommendations. Outcome measures included: Pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), Symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and catastrophic thinking (Pain Catastrophizing Scale). The adjusted regression coefficient (β) for the association between SDH and physical activity with each outcome was obtained using multivariable linear regression models controlling for age, sex, body mass index and symptom duration.

RESULTS

Eighty-six participants were included (mean age 50.9 ± 10 years, 94% women). A high level of physical activity was associated with a 12.41 mm decrease in pain intensity (β = -12.41, 95%CI: -23.87 to -0.95) and a 3.29 point decrease in depressive symptoms (β = -3.29, 95%CI: -5.52 to -1.06). In addition, being employed was associated with a 2.30 point decrease in anxiety symptoms (β = -2.30; 95%CI: -4.41 to -0.19) and a high educational level was associated with a 7.71 point decrease in catastrophizing (β = -7.71; 95%CI: -14.06 to -1.36).

CONCLUSION

Multidisciplinary care teams should be aware of the association between SDH and physical activity with physical and mental health.

Association of Self-Reported Functional Limitations among a National Community-Based Sample of Older United States Adults with Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

The characteristics of self-reported functional limitations among older United States (US) adults with pain are currently unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the characteristics associated with functional limitations among non-institutionalized older (≥50 years) US adults with pain using 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Eligible subjects were alive for the calendar year, aged ≥50 years, and experienced pain within the past four weeks. Hierarchical logistic regression models were utilized to determine significant characteristics associated with functional limitations (outcome variable; yes, no). Functional limitations included difficulty with bending, stooping, climbing stairs, grasping objects, lifting, reaching overhead, standing for long periods of time, or walking. Extrapolation of national data values was possible by adjusting for the complex MEPS design. We found approximately 22 million of the 57 million older US adults (≥50 years) who reported pain had a functional limitation in 2017. Characteristics associated with functional limitations included: gender, race, ethnicity, employment status, marital status, pain intensity, physical health, number of chronic conditions, and frequent exercise status. Knowledge of characteristics associated with functional limitations may provide an opportunity to identify and resolve gaps in patient care among this population.