Relationships between chronic pain with locomotive syndrome and somatic symptom disorder in general community-dwelling population: A cross-sectional evaluation of individuals aged 50 years or older undergoing primary specific health screening

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic pain and its relationship with locomotive syndrome (LS) and somatic symptom disorder.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey to assess factors associated with poor prognosis of chronic pain in individuals aged 50 years or older presenting for annual health checkups in Asahimachi, Japan in 2017. The Michigan Body Map, Loco-check and Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) were used to assess chronic pain, LS, and somatic symptom disorder, respectively.

Results: Of 1678 individuals assessed, 57% had chronic pain; 57% and 71% were positive for Loco-check and SSS-8, respectively. Chronic pain prevalence was higher among Loco-check-positive individuals (OR, 2.823; 95% CI, 2.278–3.499) and among SSS-8-positive individuals (OR, 15.199; 95% CI, 11.194–20.636). Loco-check-positive individuals had significantly more pain sites than Loco-check-negative individuals. A significant correlation was found between SSS-8 scores and the number of pain sites.

Conclusion: A high proportion of community-dwelling individuals aged 50 years or older had multiple pain sites and concurrent chronic pain, LS, and somatic symptom disorders. The number of pain sites correlated with LS and somatic symptom disorder. Thus, evaluating these could help physicians to take into account how chronic pain affects patients in terms of functional and psychological aspects.

Keywords:

• Chronic pain
• locomotive syndrome
• prevalence
• screening
• somatic symptom

Conflict of interest

None.