Background & Aims

Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent condition among older adults (1), and it is associated with muscle mass loss, posing a risk for probable sarcopenia (2,3). Functional measures have been associated with increased disability in older adults (4). Given the recurring nature of chronic LBP in this population, they may be particularly prone to probable sarcopenia. In addition, low socioeconomic status has been shown to paly a role in the occurrence of both chronic LBP and sarcopenia (5). The aim of this study was to explore the association bewteen sociodemographic characteristics and probable sarcopenia in older adults with chronic LBP, utilizing sample data collected in both Italy and Brazil.

Methods

This comparative cross-sectional study used data from older adults (age ?60 years) seeking care for chronic LBP in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and Rome, Italy. Sociodemographic characteristics included age, body mass index (BMI), education level, work status, marital status and the presence of probable sarcopenia was assessed by the algorithm developed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (6). The association between sociodemographic characteristics and probable sarcopenia was examined through binary logistic regression models, and odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Results

A total of 200 older adults were included (Brazil, n=100; Italy, n= 100). Participants were predominantly women (Brazil, 74%; Italy, 61%) with a similar mean age and BMI. Probable sarcopenia was present in 55 (28%) participants (Brazil, n=30; Italy, n=25). The odds of having probable sarcopenia among those that complete the tertiary education was 0.38 times (OR = 0.38 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.79]) the odds among those who did not have education beyond primary school.

Conclusions

Our study showed that lower education levels were associated with probable sarcopenia in older people with chronic LBP.

References

1.Ferreira ML, de Luca K, Haile LM, Steinmetz JD, Culbreth GT, Cross M, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990–2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023 Jun 1;5(6):e316–29.

2.Chen J, Wang X, Xu Z. Sarcopenia and Chronic Pain in the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Vol. 16, Journal of Pain Research. Dove Medical Press Ltd; 2023. p. 3569–81.

3.Sakai Y, Watanabe T, Wakao N, Matsui H, Osada N, Kaneko R, et al. Skeletal Muscle and Fat Mass Reflect Chronic Pain in Older Adult. Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2023 Jan 1;9.

4.Yuan S, Larsson SC. Epidemiology of sarcopenia: Prevalence, risk factors, and consequences. Vol. 144, Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental. W.B. Saunders; 2023.

5.Cheval B, Boisgontier MP, Orsholits D, Sieber S, Guessous I, Gabriel R, et al. Association of early- and adult-life socioeconomic circumstances with muscle strength in older age. Age Ageing. 2018 May 1;47(3):398–407.

6.Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyère O, Cederholm T, et al. Sarcopenia: Revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16–31.

Presenting Author

Jack Devonshire

Poster Authors

Eleonora Esposito

Ms

Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Lead Author

Ítalo Ribeiro Lemes

PhD

Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, Brazil.

Lead Author

Umile Giuseppe Longo

MD

Campus Biomedico University, Rome, Italy.

Lead Author

Larissa Bragança Falcão Marques

Ms

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Lead Author

Robert Resende Nascimento

Mr

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Lead Author

Paola Sinibaldi Salimei

PhD

University of Rome 'Tor Vergata' (UNIROMA2), Rome, Italy

Lead Author

Rafael Zambelli Pinto - PhD

Federal University of Minas Gerais

Lead Author

Topics

  • Specific Pain Conditions/Pain in Specific Populations: Low Back Pain