title: Associations Between Fat Mass and Multisite Pain: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study.
abstract: Pain is common in older adults and typically involves multiple sites. Obesity is an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of pain and multisite pain (MSP). This study aimed to examine longitudinal associations between fat mass and MSP, and to explore the potential mechanisms of any associations.
  
  
  
  Data from a longitudinal population-based study of older adults (n = 1,099) were utilized with measurements at baseline and after 2.6 and 5.1 years. At each time point, presence/absence of pain at the neck, back, hands, shoulders, hips, knees, and feet was assessed by questionnaire. Fat mass was assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry, and height and weight were measured.
  
  
  
  Participants were of mean age 63 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 27.9 kg/m2, and 51% women. Participants reporting greater number of painful sites had greater fat mass, fat mass index (FMI), and BMI both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. In multivariable analyses, fat mass was associated with MSP (odds ratio [OR] 1.06 per SD; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02-1.10) and pain at the hands, knees, hips, and feet (OR 1.29-1.99 per SD, P < 0.05 for all). Results were similar for FMI and BMI, although the latter was also associated with back pain (OR 1.25 per SD, 95% CI 1.02-1.54).
  
  
  
  Fat mass, FMI, and BMI are associated with MSP and pain at all lower-extremity sites and hand pain, independent of sociodemographic, physical activity, and psychological factors. This suggests that both loading and systemic inflammatory factors may have an important role in the pathogenesis of fat-related MSP.
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4336-0095
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laslett
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blizzard
authors.affiliation: Monash University Medical School, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cicuttini
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Winzenberg
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Changhai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D050154:Adiposity; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013648:Tasmania; D013997:Time Factors