Characteristics Associated with Self-Reported Exercise among US Adults Age ≥50 Years with Self-Reported Pain in the Past Four Weeks Who Used an Opioid

Abstract

The number of older adults in the United States is growing, alongside the number of older adults experiencing some sort of pain and using opioids. Exercise is an important pain management and pain prevention strategy. However, little is known about the factors associated with exercise among United States adults ≥50 years old with pain who use opioids. This retrospective cross-sectional database study aimed to identify characteristics associated with self-reported frequent exercise (moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise ≥30 min five times a week) in United States adults ≥50 years old with pain in the past four weeks who had also used an opioid. The study used 2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data and logistic regression models. Analyses maintained the structure of the complex survey data and were weighted to obtain nationally representative estimates. Significantly associated variables with frequent exercise in the fully adjusted analysis included being aged 60–69 (versus ≥80 years, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.1–5.1]), having excellent/very good/good (versus fair/poor) self-perceived health (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = [1.3–4.2]), normal/underweight (versus obese (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = [1.1–3.9])), overweight (versus obese (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI = [1.0–2.9])), and having little (versus extreme) pain (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = [1.0–5.7]). A secondary finding was that 35.7% considered themselves frequent exercisers, while the remaining 64.3% did not consider themselves frequent exercisers. In future, these findings can be used to personalize pain management strategies and encourage greater levels of exercise among this population.