The Factors of Musculoskeletal Pain in Geriatric Patients and the Relationship between Pain and Quality of Life

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess the musculoskeletal pain frequency and intensity, to pinpoint the factors affecting the pain and to research their effect on patients’ quality of life. Methods: 203 patients over 65 who came to our Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation clinic were included in the study. Intensity of comorbid diseases were calculated by using Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS). Geriatric Pain Measure-24 (GPM) was used to assess the pain intensity, Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS) was used to detect the presence of depression and Short Form-36 (SF-36) was used to determine quality of life. Results: The median age of the patients was 72.9 ± 6.36 (65 - 92) years. 97% of patients complained of pain. GPM total value mean of the patients was 61.9 (0 - 99.9). GPM scores were significantly higher in patients who were female (p < 0.001), single (p < 0.015), lower education, housewife (p < 0.001), depressed (p < 0.001), and with a preexisting comorbidity. However, in multivariate linear regression analysis, only female sex and depression presence was found out to be the factors that significantly affect the GPM scores (p < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between GPM and GDS scores (p = 0.001, r = 0.545). There were significant negative correlations between all subgroup parameters of SF-36 and both GPM and GDS. Conclusions: Low education, being single, presence of comorbidities and being a housewife all relates to pain intensity, yet the most important factors are being female and presence of depression. Pain intensity is connected to low quality of life. We think this study will show a path to program geriatric population’s healthcare needs.