Preceding Poor Physical Function Is Associated with New-Onset Musculoskeletal Pain among Older Natural Disaster Survivors: A Longitudinal Study after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

This study aimed to elucidate the association of poor physical function with new-onset musculoskeletal pain among older survivors after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). Survivors aged ≥ 65 years, 3 years after the GEJE, were assessed longitudinally for 1 year (n = 646). Musculoskeletal pain was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire, and new-onset musculoskeletal pain was defined as absence and presence of pain at 3 years and 4 years, respectively, after the disaster. Physical function at 3 years after the disaster was assessed using the Kihon Checklist physical function score, which consists of 5 yes/no questions, and poor physical function was defined as a score of ≥ 3/5. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of poor physical function with new-onset musculoskeletal pain. The incidence of new-onset musculoskeletal pain was 22.4%. Participants with poor physical function had a significantly higher rate of new-onset musculoskeletal pain. Compared with high physical function, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for new-onset musculoskeletal pain was 2.25 (1.37-3.69) in poor physical function (P = 0.001). Preceding poor physical function was associated with new-onset musculoskeletal pain among older survivors after the GEJE. There is need to focus on the maintenance of physical function to prevent musculoskeletal pain after natural disasters. PMID: 32435007 [PubMed - in process]
Source: The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Tohoku J Exp Med Source Type: research