Feeling rested predicts good health in subjects with and without chronic musculoskeletal pain

• Background: Musculoskeletal pain is a public health problem and a common cause for people to seek health care. It has also been shown that people with musculoskeletal pain estimates their health-related quality of life very low compared to a pain free population. Earlier studies have primarily looked at risk factors and there are little known about health predicting factors in a general population.Objectives: To investigate the associations between suggested health factors and health-related quality of life at baseline and in an eight-year follow up in subjects with and without chronic musculoskeletal pain.Methods: A longitudinal study in a Swedish general population (N=1 849) with a postal questionnaire at baseline 1995 and at a follow up 2003. Subjects were divided into two groups, according to their response about chronic musculoskeletal pain at baseline. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the SF-36 together with suggested health factors. The associations between the dependent variables (SF-36 subscales) and the independent variables (i.e. the suggested health factors; socioeconomic status, immigrant status, emotional support, regularly exercise, sleep structure, feeling rested, smoking and alcohol habits) were estimated by OR and 95% CI calculated by multivariable logistic regressions, with adjustment for all health factors, age, sex and baseline SF-36 values.Results: The most consistent finding for subjects with and without chronic musculoskeletal pain at baseline and in the eight-year follow up was a statistical significant (p<0.05) better health outcome in SF-36 subscales for subjects that were feeling rested at baseline. At baseline feeling rested was associated with having a health status better than the mean score in seven SF-36 subscales for both subjects with chronic pain (OR 1.5 (95% CI 1.0-2.3) – OR 4.4 (95% CI 2.9-6.6)) and subjects without chronic pain (OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.6-4.1) – OR 4.4 (95% CI 3.0-6.5)). At the follow up feeling rested predicted a better outcome in five subscales for subjects with chronic pain (OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.4) – OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.4-3.6)) and in six subscales for subjects without chronic pain (OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.5) – OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.8-4.1)). Other factors that in some aspects predicted a better outcome were belonging to higher socioeconomic group, being an inborn Swede, having emotional support, having good sleep structure, never being or being a former smoker, and regularly drinking alcohol.Conclusion: ''Feeling rested'' was the most consistent factor predicting a good health outcome, both in subjects with and without chronic musculoskeletal pain, and should be attended to in health promotion work. Emotional support, sleep structure, smoking and alcoholic habits also appears to be important health factors to take into account.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)