Shoulder pain has most impact on poor quality of life among various types of musculoskeletal pain in middle-aged and elderly people: Yakumo study.

Objectives

To investigate the severity and effect on quality of life (QOL) of various types of pain in healthy volunteers.

Methods

A total of 384 subjects (male: 158, female: 226, average age: 63 years) were included in a prospective cohort study (Yakumo study). Shoulder pain, low back pain (LBP), sciatica, knee pain, and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score were evaluated with SF-36.

Results

The prevalence of shoulder pain, LBP, sciatica, and knee pain was 42%, 44%, 16%, and 48%, respectively, with similar severities of pain. Shoulder pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and ASES shoulder scores were significantly correlated with SF-36 domains. Subjects with poor physical QOL had significantly higher VAS scores for all pain types and a lower ASES shoulder score. Shoulder pain VAS was also significantly related to poor mental QOL. Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for age and gender showed that shoulder pain VAS (OR: 1.25, p < .05) and 10-m gait speed (OR: 1.82, p < .05) were significant independent risk factors for poor physical QOL.

Conclusion

Only shoulder pain of similar severity to other pain and shoulder complaints impacted on both physical and mental QOL. The severity of shoulder pain was an independent risk factor for poor physical QOL.