Neck and shoulder pain in 70- to 79-year-old men and women: findings from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.
BACKGROUND
Musculoskeletal pain in the cervicobrachial region is considered a major health problem among adults of working age, but little is known about the impact of this pain in the elderly.


OBJECTIVE
Determine the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain in a well-functioning cohort, identify factors associated with this pain, assess the pattern of coexisting joint pain and evaluate the impact of this pain on physical functioning.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Black and white men and women, aged 70 to 79 years, participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Between April 1997 and June 1998, 3,075 men and women participating in Health ABC study completed the initial home interview and clinical examination. Information was collected on musculoskeletal pain, medical history, depressive symptomatology and physical function. Physical performance measures were obtained.


RESULTS
A total of 11.9% of participants reported neck pain of one month or more in duration and 18.9% reported shoulder pain. White women had the highest prevalence of neck pain (15.4%) and black women the highest prevalence of shoulder pain (24.3%). The correlates of both neck and shoulder pain were female gender, no education beyond high school, poorer self-rated health, depressive symptomatology and a medical history of arthritis, heart attack, angina. Increasing severity of both neck and shoulder pain was associated with an increased prevalence of joint pain at other body sites and with poor functional capacity. Measures of physical performance involving the upper extremity were also decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Neck and shoulder pain, either alone or in conjunction with pain in other joints, has a substantial impact on the function and well-being of the older adults in this cohort.
Vogt
Molly T
MT
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. vogtm@msx.upmc.edu
Simonsick
Eleanor M
EM
Harris
Tamara B
TB
Nevitt
Michael C
MC
Kang
James D
JD
Rubin
Susan M
SM
Kritchevsky
Stephen B
SB
Newman
Anne B
AB
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010808:Physical Examination; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology