Pain is a risk factor for frailty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Estimates of pain in the general population range from 40% in community dwelling elderly to 80% in institutionalized individuals.While studies have demonstrated an association between pain and frailty,it is not clear whether pain is a risk factor for frailty.This literature review and meta-analysis was designed to better understand the association between persistent pain and the incidence of frailty.METHODS From a literature review,five prospective studies were chosen for inclusion,involving 13,120 participants,ranging from 59 to 85 years of age.All studies used assessments of pain and frailty,with a median follow-up of three to eight years.A random effects model meta analysis was performed to investigate the association between pain and frailty.RESULTS The data revealed that participants with pain at baseline had twice the risk of developing frailty at the time of follow-up(relative risk 2.22)compared to those without chronic pain,even after adjusting for confounding risk factors.CONCLUSION This literature review and meta-analysis demonstrates that persistent pain is associated with a significantly increased risk of frailty.