# Characteristics and impact of chronic pain and pain management in older adults

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2022 · $366,379

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Approximately 38.5% of Americans >65 years of age report chronic pain lasting 6 months or
longer. This percentage is expected to increase given the growth in the older adult population
and the associated growth of chronic conditions that can contribute to pain. Chronic pain tends
to be more complex in older adults with ~70% of them describing pain in multiple sites and over
60% describing multiple types of pain.
To date, no large national sample of older adults provides detailed, longtitudinal information on
the experience of chronic pain in older adults; the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic
strategies that older adults are using to manage their chronic pain; and the impact of chronic
pain on important person-centered outcomes. The proposed study will fill these significant gaps
in knowledge by conducting the first national longitudinal study focused on chronic pain in older
adults. In a large national sample of 1888 older adults, of whom 1,232 have chronic pain (i.e.,
pain >6 months duration) and 656 do not have chronic pain, we aim to: 1) Determine the
prevalence and characteristics (i.e. quality, severity, interference) of chronic pain as well as
identify the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments used to manage chronic pain; 2)
Evaluate for longitudinal differences in biological, psychological, social factors, as well as
physical and cognitive function and QoL between older adults with and without chronic pain; and
3) Examine the longitudinal relationships between chronic pain (i.e., worst pain score) and
patient reported outcomes (i.e., physical function, cognitive function, QoL). We will determine
which biological, psychological, and social factors at enrollment are associated with changes in
the trajectories of chronic pain, identify subgroups of older adults with distinct pain profiles using
latent profile analysis, and determine how changes in the trajectories of physical function,
cognitive function, and QoL are associated with these distinct pain profile classes.
Informed by a better understanding of pain characteristics, factors associated with chronic pain,
treatment approaches and long-term impact, we will be equipped to develop and test tailored
interventions that target subgroups of older patients, with the goal of improving the management
of chronic pain, as well as overall function and QoL.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10491669
- **Project number:** 5R01AG064947-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTINE A. MIASKOWSKI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $366,379
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10491669

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10491669, Characteristics and impact of chronic pain and pain management in older adults (5R01AG064947-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10491669. Licensed CC0.

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