In older adults, there is a strong correlation be- tween nutritional status and pain interference,
according to a study published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. Researchers
sought to assess the link between nutritional status and pain interference in older adults with
chronic musculoskeletal pain. A cross-sectional study was conducted (N=241; age >60) using the
brief pain inventory and mini-nutritional assessment questionnaire. The chi-squared test and
Spearman’s rank correlation were used to measure the link be- tween pain severity, pain
interference, and nutritional status. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze
the variables correlated with abnormal nutrition status. Abnormal nutritional status was positively
associated with pain severity (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.53; P=.034), pain interference (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08-1.48; P=.004), age (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11, P=.011), and hypertension (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.11-4.26; P=.024).
