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Mediation

Arthritis Pain Linked to Functional Dependence in Longitudinal Study

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent study published in Physical Therapy has identified a significant association between arthritis pain and functional dependence in adults, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to arthritis care. The research, conducted by a team of scientists at the University of Ottawa, utilized data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging to investigate the effects of pain on functional dependence in individuals with arthritis. The study found that pain at baseline was positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively associated with physical activity, with 23.3% of the total effect of pain on functional dependence accounted for by the indirect effect through depressive symptoms and physical activity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 6972 participants with arthritis, including 4930 with osteoarthritis and 694 with rheumatoid arthritis, and was conducted over a mean follow-up period of 6.3 years.
  • Baseline pain was positively associated with depressive symptoms (b = 0.356 [95% CI = 0.310 to 0.402]) and negatively associated with physical activity (b = -0.083 [95% CI = -0.125 to -0.042]).
  • Functional dependence at follow-up was significantly predicted by baseline pain (log OR = 0.607 [95% CI = 0.261 to 0.952]), depressive symptoms (log OR = 0.358 [95% CI = 0.184 to 0.533]), and physical activity (log OR = -0.598 [95% CI = -0.818 to -0.378]).
  • Mediation analysis showed that 23.3% of the total effect of pain on functional dependence was accounted for by the indirect effect through depressive symptoms (16.2%), physical activity (6.3%), and their serial combination (0.8%).
  • The presence of pain at baseline was associated with higher odds of functional dependence in basic and instrumental activities of daily living.

Statistics:

  • 6972 participants with arthritis were included in the study.
  • 4930 participants had osteoarthritis, while 694 had rheumatoid arthritis.
  • The mean follow-up period was 6.3 years.
  • 23.3% of the total effect of pain on functional dependence was accounted for by the indirect effect through depressive symptoms and physical activity.
  • The association between baseline pain and functional dependence was significant, with baseline pain associated with higher odds of functional dependence (log OR = 0.607 [95% CI = 0.261 to 0.952]).

Sources:

  • Researchers at University of Ottawa Describe Findings in Arthritis (Depressive Symptoms and Physical Activity Mediate the Adverse Effect of Pain on Functional Dependence in Patients With Arthritis: Evidence From the Canadian Longitudinal Study ...). Health & Medicine Week. October 17, 2025; p 6287.
  • Depressive Symptoms and Physical Activity Mediate the Adverse Effect of Pain on Functional Dependence in Patients With Arthritis: Evidence From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Physical Therapy, 2025.

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