Fibromyalgia & musculoskeletal pain
The impact of older age on the relation between chronic musculoskeletal pain and health-related quality of life: The Maastricht Study
Authors' conclusion
Although chronic MSP negatively affects physical and mental health as well as work productivity, our findings suggest an unexpected resilience in mental HRQoL among older adults.
Study context
- Population
- Participants aged 40–75 years from the population-based Maastricht Study cohort
- Participants
- 8,618 participants
- Exposure
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP) vs no chronic MSP; age groups (seven groups) and their interaction with chronic MSP
- Chronic MSPn = 2,513
- Outcome
- Interaction between age group and chronic MSP on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (SF-36 MCS and physical component score (PCS), EuroQol-VAS, (un)paid work days lost in past six months)
Methodological detailspopulation-based cohort, multivariable analyses
- Population-based cohort
- Multivariable analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Β (MSP effect on MCS)
−0.4
95% CI −1.3 to 0.6P for interaction < 0.05
Aged 70-75 years
Β (MSP effect on MCS)
−3.1
95% CI −5.0 to −1.2P for interaction < 0.05
Aged 40-44 years
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (unproductive days) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Association of chronic MSP with HRQoL components | 2.1 (1.9–2.4) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (unproductive days) (log scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Association of chronic MSP with HRQoL components | β (PCS) −7.4 (95% CI −7.8 to −7.1) |
| Association of chronic MSP with HRQoL components | β (MCS) −1.8 (95% CI −2.2 to −1.5) |
| Association of chronic MSP with HRQoL components | β (EuroQol-VAS) −7.9 (95% CI −8.9 to −7.0) |
- Prevalence of chronic MSP
- 29% · 2513
Unproductive days by age >60 years, independent of MSP
- Age>60 years associated with fewer unproductive days, independent of MSP (OR range across age groups)
- 0.6 to 0.3; all P<0.01
Original publication
The impact of older age on the relation between chronic musculoskeletal pain and health-related quality of life: The Maastricht Study. Joint Bone Spine. Published 28 August 2025. doi:10.
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