Impact of pain on disability among older Mexican Americans

Background, Joint pain is a very common complaint among elderly persons and may lead to functional disability. The purpose of this study is to estimat e the prevalence of self-reported pain on weight bearing and its impact on the 2-year incidence of limitation in lower-body activities of daily living (ADL) in initially nondisabled Mexican American elderly subjects. Methods. We studied a probability sample of 2 167 noninstitutionalized Mexi can American men and women aged 65 or older residing in five Southwestern s tates. Subjects were asked about pain on weight bearing. ADL, depressive sy mptomatology, and the presence of chronic diseases. The body mass index was computed using measured height and weight. Finally, a three-task (randem b alance. 8-foot walk, and repeated chair stands), performance-based, lower-b ody function test was performed. Results. The overall prevalence of pain on weight bearing in the sample was 31.9%. with 37.7% for women versus 24.0% for men (p < .001). The most prev alent sites of pain were knees ( 14.7%). followed by ankle/feet (12.1%). In a logistic regression analysis, pain was a significant independent predict or of subsequent disability and of the inability to perform tandem balance. 8-foot walk, and repeated chair stands. Conclusions. Pain on weight bearing is prevalent among older Mexican Americ ans and is a major independent risk factor for subsequent disability.