Association between the central sensitization inventory score and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults

by Naoki Segi, Hiroaki Nakashima, Ryotaro Oishi, Sadayuki Ito, Jun Ouchida, Ippei Yamauchi, Yasuhiro Nagatani, Taisuke Seki, Yasuhiko Takegami, Shinya Ishizuka, Yukiharu Hasegawa, Shiro Imagama

Central sensitization is an important factor associated with impaired health-related quality of life in patients with musculoskeletal disorders and community-dwelling older adults. However, health-related quality-of-life domains strongly associated with central sensitization in the general population remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between the Central Sensitization Inventory Part A scores and health-related quality of life using community health checkup data.

A total of 419 middle-aged and older adults (mean age, 64.4 ± 11.2 years; 59.4% female) were included. Participants completed a questionnaire survey on pain, including visual analogue scales (VASs) for lower-back and knee pain, and the Central Sensitization Inventory Part A. Additionally, participants completed the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey, and three component-summary scores and eight subscales were calculated. Additionally, participants completed the 5-level EuroQol 5 dimensions, and health-state utility values were calculated. The correlation between the Central Sensitization Inventory Part A scores and these health-related quality-of-life measures was investigated.

Central Sensitization Inventory Part A score ≥40 was observed in 2.6% participants. Significant moderate negative correlations were observed between the Central Sensitization Inventory Part A scores and EuroQol 5 dimensions health-state utility values (r = −0.631, P r = −0.550, P r = −0.556, P r = −0.556, P r = −0.610, P r = −0.556, P  Conclusions

In community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults, Central Sensitization Inventory Part A scores were negatively correlated with health-related quality-of-life scores, even in participants with Central Sensitization Inventory Part A scores