title: Persistence of noncancer-related musculoskeletal chronic pain among community-dwelling older people: a population-based longitudinal study in Finland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the persistence of chronic pain among community-dwelling older persons and to identify factors related to persistent chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective longitudinal study, a random sample of Finnish community-dwelling people aged 76 years and older (n=256) were interviewed annually by a trained nurse at 3 time points. Data on prevalence, duration, location, and intensity of musculoskeletal pain, analgesic use, demographics, and health characteristics were collected during the interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chronic pain was reported by 48.9% of the participants at baseline, with 74.4% of them experiencing persistent chronic pain, that is, they reported chronic pain at all 3 study points. Persistent chronic pain was associated with poor self-rated health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.26, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.03-4.98), mobility difficulties (AOR=2.80, 95% CI, 1.22-6.43), and arthrosis or rheumatoid arthritis (AOR=3.07, 95% CI, 1.47-6.42) when compared with persons without chronic pain. However, only 15% of the persons with persistent chronic pain were using analgesics on a regular basis, and one out of every 5 was not taking any analgesics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a highly persistent condition among community-dwelling older persons and it is related to poor health and mobility difficulties. In addition, the use of daily analgesic is low despite the continuous nature of chronic pain.
authors.affiliation: *Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care †Clinical Pharmacology and Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Unit, School of Pharmacy §Social Pharmacy Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio ‡Farenta Oy, Vantaa, Finland.
authors.forename: Niina M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Karttunen
authors.forename: Juha H O
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Turunen
authors.forename: Riitta S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.forename: Sirpa A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hartikainen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018672:Community Health Planning; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics