Association between daily pain and physical function among old-old adults living in the community : results from the ilSIRENTE study

Little is known about the impact of pain on physical function among old-old subjects. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the association of daily pain with muscle strength and physical performance in a population of subjects aged 80 or older living in the community. We used data from baseline evaluation of the ilSIRENTE Study. Muscle strength was measured by hand grip strength. Physical performance was assessed using the physical performance battery score, which is based on three timed tests: 4-m walking speed, balance, and chair stand tests. Daily pain was defined as any type of pain or discomfort in any part of the body manifested every day over the 7 days preceding the assessment. Mean age of 273 participants was 85.1 (SD 4.6) years, 181 (66.3%) were women and 150 (54.9%) reported daily pain. After adjustment for potential confounders, participants with daily pain had lower grip strength and physical performance battery score (indicating worse performance) than other participants (hand grip strength: daily pain 31.5 kg, SE 1.4, no daily pain 35.0, SE 1.1, p = 0.02; physical performance battery score: daily pain 6.5, SE 0.3, no daily pain 7.2, SE 0.3, p = 0.05). Both hand grip strength and physical performance battery score progressively declined as pain severity increased. In conclusion, the present study shows that among old-old subjects living in the community, daily pain is highly prevalent and that this condition is associated with impaired muscle strength and physical performance.