A network analysis of changing pain cooccurrence in older adults findings from the second wave of the COPERNICUS study

Over one-third of patients with chronic pain report pain at multiple anatomical sites. The current study examined the co-localization of pain and its intensity over a 2-year follow-up period. Kendall rank correlation coefficient (denoted as tau) was applied for the co-occurrence of pain in specific locations. Individuals over the age of 60 years were recruited from the general population in Poland (N = 205, 60–88 years old). The lumbar spine was the most frequently occurring site for chronic pain, present in 31% of individuals at baseline and in 38% after 2 years. The number of pain sites did not change over 2 years (p = 0.53). An increase of co-occurrence between anatomical sites for pain was noted after 2 years. Cervical spine pain co-occurred with pain in the thoracic spine (tau = 0.31), lumbar spine (tau = 0.45), chest (tau = 0.18), hips (tau = 0.17), legs (tau = 0.18), knee(s) (tau = 0.31), and feet (tau = 0.17). The observed increase in pain co-occurrence over 2 years suggests the need for modified approaches to pain treatment in older adults.