ASSESSING THE VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH PAIN AMONG UNITED STATES ADULTS WITH LONG COVID: A NATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL DATABASE STUDY
Author(s)
David R. Axon, PhD1, Regan Szott, -2.
1Chair & Professor, James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 2James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, CINCINNATI, OH, USA.
1Chair & Professor, James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 2James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, CINCINNATI, OH, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Pain is prevalent among patients with long COVID (LC), yet the characteristics associated with pain have not been previously studied. The study objective was to assess the variables associated with pain interference in a nationally representative study among United States (U.S.) adults with LC.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and included U.S. adults (≥18) with LC. Independent variables included age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, number of conditions, functional limitations, physical health, mental health, exercise, smoking status, employment, income, and insurance. The dependent variable was pain interference (classified as some or no pain interference). Differences between pain interference status for each characteristic were compared using a chi-squared test. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the association between each variable and pain interference. The data was analyzed using SAS survey procedures. The complex survey data structure was maintained with cluster and strata variables and weighted to provide national estimates. The alpha value was 0.05.
RESULTS: The study included 1,016 individuals (weighted n=26,324,127) with LC. Of these, 577 had pain interference (weighted n=14,232,485), and 439 (weighted n=12,091,642) did not. Variables associated with higher odds of pain interference among U.S. adults with LC included: age 60-69 versus 18-29 (Odds Ratio [OR]=2.5, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.2-5.4), age 50-59 versus 18-29 (OR=2.4, 95%CI=1.2-2.6), being married versus unmarried (OR=1.5, 95%CI=1.0-2.3), having 4+conditions compared to 0-1 (OR=2.3, 95%CI=1.3-4.1), 2-3 conditions versus 0-1 (OR=1.6, 95%CI=1.0-2.5), a functional limitation versus no limitation (OR=5.0, 95%CI=2.9-8.4), fair/poor versus excellent physical health (OR=6.0, 95%CI=2.5-14.6), good versus excellent physical health (OR=2.5, 95%CI=1.2-5.4), and fair/poor versus excellent mental health (OR=2.6, 95%CI=1.2-5.3).
CONCLUSIONS: This study identified characteristics associated with pain interference among U.S. adults with LC that may offer opportunities for further investigation in the management of pain interference for this population.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and included U.S. adults (≥18) with LC. Independent variables included age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education, number of conditions, functional limitations, physical health, mental health, exercise, smoking status, employment, income, and insurance. The dependent variable was pain interference (classified as some or no pain interference). Differences between pain interference status for each characteristic were compared using a chi-squared test. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the association between each variable and pain interference. The data was analyzed using SAS survey procedures. The complex survey data structure was maintained with cluster and strata variables and weighted to provide national estimates. The alpha value was 0.05.
RESULTS: The study included 1,016 individuals (weighted n=26,324,127) with LC. Of these, 577 had pain interference (weighted n=14,232,485), and 439 (weighted n=12,091,642) did not. Variables associated with higher odds of pain interference among U.S. adults with LC included: age 60-69 versus 18-29 (Odds Ratio [OR]=2.5, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.2-5.4), age 50-59 versus 18-29 (OR=2.4, 95%CI=1.2-2.6), being married versus unmarried (OR=1.5, 95%CI=1.0-2.3), having 4+conditions compared to 0-1 (OR=2.3, 95%CI=1.3-4.1), 2-3 conditions versus 0-1 (OR=1.6, 95%CI=1.0-2.5), a functional limitation versus no limitation (OR=5.0, 95%CI=2.9-8.4), fair/poor versus excellent physical health (OR=6.0, 95%CI=2.5-14.6), good versus excellent physical health (OR=2.5, 95%CI=1.2-5.4), and fair/poor versus excellent mental health (OR=2.6, 95%CI=1.2-5.3).
CONCLUSIONS: This study identified characteristics associated with pain interference among U.S. adults with LC that may offer opportunities for further investigation in the management of pain interference for this population.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EPH98
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)