title: Factors associated with the pressure pain threshold in healthy Chinese men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of present study was to examine the influence of demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and metabolic factors on pressure-induced pain threshold.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised 2,517 healthy men at second-phase recruitment of a population-based cohort in China. The pressure pain threshold (PPT) at two locations, triceps and inguinal lines, was obtained using a digital pressure algometer. Education and occupation, as well as lifestyle factors, were self-reported in a face-to-face interview. Blood lipid and fasting glucose were measured as a routine healthy check-up program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A lower PPT was found among men with younger age, higher level of education, and non-manual occupation. In addition, men with central obesity and moderate leisure time physical exercise were more sensitive to muscle mechanical stimuli. PPT was significantly correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β for triceps = 0.064, and β for inguinal lines = 0.052) in a multivariate linear regression model, after controlling for multiple variables. Elevated PPT was also found among subjects with hyperglycemia (both P for triceps and inguinal lines <0.001) and excess drinking (P for triceps = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important for physicians and researchers to consider these variables when evaluating pain sensitivity in clinic and in research. The underling mechanisms between these factors and pressure pain perception are worthy of further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology and Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Youjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yuangliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhifu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Xiaoxiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zengnan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011312:Pressure
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL
keywords: Chinese; Cross-Sectional; Pain Measurement; Pressure Pain Threshold