Background Increase in fat mass is correlated with musculoskeletal pain

Objectives In this study, we sought to delineate the prospective relationship between fat mass parameters and the musculoskeletal pain in Korean community residents.

Methods In the Korean Health and Genome Study, 1,325 participants (mean age 60.2 years, 56.2% women) who completed pain questionnaires and underwent dual x-ray absorptiometry to calculate body composition had 3 year follow-up data on pain. Pain was categorized according to number of pain regions. After 3 years of follow-up, subjects were classified into the followings: 1) no pain both at baseline and at 3 years (no pain), 2) any pain (one, two or more, or widespread regions) at baseline and no pain at 3 years (transient pain), 3) no pain at baseline and any pain at 3 years (new pain) 4) any pain both at baseline and at 3 years (persistent pain). 1) and 2) were grouped as no/transient pain group (no pain) and 3) and 4) as new/persistent pain group (pain)

Results Female gender and obesity were 2 significant factors associated with the persistence or development of pain. Total fat mass and fat:muscle mass ratio were significantly correlated with pain, and the odds ratios for pain were significantly increased in subjects in the highest quartile of fat muscle ratio after adjustment among female subjects only. Among normal weight subjects, those without metabolic syndrome were less likely to belong to the pain group, especially among women.

Conclusions The association of fat mass and pain was only significant among females

Disclosure of Interest None declared