Mức độ đau và các yếu tố liên quan ở người cao tuổi đồng mắc đau cột sống thắt lưng và thoái hóa khớp gối: Nghiên cứu cắt ngang tại Bệnh viện Đa khoa Thái Bình

Chronic lumbar spine pain (CLBP) and knee osteoarthritis (OA) represent significant public health challenges among the elderly, frequently co-existing and exacerbating pain and disability. In Vietnam, understanding the severity of pain and its associated factors in this specific patient population remains critically limited. This study addresses this gap by aiming to comprehensively describe the pain level experienced by elderly patients concurrently afflicted with CLBP and OA. Furthermore, it seeks to identify key factors associated with their pain levels, thereby providing essential insights for developing targeted interventions and improving patient outcomes in this vulnerable demographic.

Medical professionals, geriatric specialists, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and public health researchers interested in chronic pain management and musculoskeletal disorders in the elderly.

This cross-sectional study investigated the pain level and related factors in 88 elderly patients (≥60 years) diagnosed with both chronic lumbar spine pain (CLBP) and knee osteoarthritis (OA) at Thai Binh General Hospital. Utilizing the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment, alongside demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data, the research employed multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of severe pain (VAS ≥7). The findings revealed a substantial burden, with 75.0% of participants experiencing severe pain, predominantly associated with advanced knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3–4 in 75.3% of cases). Critically, age over 70 years emerged as the strongest independent predictor of severe pain, demonstrating a significantly higher risk (AOR=9.0; 95% CI: 2.4-33.6). While factors like female gender, farming history, and abnormal body mass index (BMI) showed initial significance in univariate analysis, their predictive power diminished after adjustment for other variables. These results underscore that severe pain is a prevalent and serious condition among elderly Vietnamese individuals with concurrent CLBP and OA, where older age significantly heightens risk. The study highlights the urgent need for early screening and comprehensive multimodal management strategies, particularly for those aged 70 and above, to effectively control pain level, mitigate disability, and enhance overall quality of life.