Stressful life events and low back pain in older men: A cross-sectional and prospective analysis using data from the MrOS study

Background: Stressful life events, such as loss of a partner, loss of a pet or financial problems, are more common with increasing age and may impact the experience of pain. The aim of the current study is to determine the cross-sectional and prospective association between stressful life events and low back pain reporting in the Osteoporotic Fracture in Men Study, a cohort of older men aged ≥65 years. Methods: At a study visit (March 2005–May 2006), 5149 men reported whether they had experienced a stressful life event or low back pain in the prior 12 months. Following that visit, data on low back pain patients were gathered through triannual questionnaires every 4 months for 1 year. Multivariable logistic regression analyses estimated the association of stressful life events with recent past low back pain or future low back pain. Results: N = 2930, (57%) men reported at least one stressful life event. The presence of a stressful life event was associated with greater odds of any low back pain (OR = 1.42 [1.26–1.59]) and activity-limiting low back pain (OR = 1.74 [1.50–2.01]) in the same period and of any low back pain (OR = 1.56 [1.39–1.74]) and frequent low back pain (OR = 1.80 [1.55–2.08]) in the following year. Conclusion: In this cohort of men, the presence of stressful life events increased the likelihood of reporting past and future low back pain. Significance: Stressful life events such as accident or illness to a partner are common in later life and may impact the experience of pain. We present cross-sectional and prospective data highlighting a consistent association between stressful life events and low back pain in older men. Further, there is evidence to suggest that this relationship is upregulated by an individual's living situation. This information may be used to strengthen a biopsychosocial perspective of an individual's pain experience.