QJM. 2025 Nov 8:hcaf247. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcaf247. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pain intensity frequently increases with age, impacting quality of life in older adults. Fish and coffee consumption, may influence pain trajectories, but longitudinal evidence remains limited.
AIM: To investigate the association between changes in fish and coffee consumption frequency and alterations in pain intensity over two years in older adults.
DESIGN: A longitudinal observational study assessing changes in dietary patterns and pain intensity over a two-year follow-up.
METHODS: A sample of 205 healthy older adults was evaluated at baseline and after two years. Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10). Coffee and fish consumption frequencies were recorded weekly and categorized as decreased, no change, or increased over the study period. Analyses were adjusted for confounders: age, sex, depression severity changes, health self-assessment, and analgesic use.
RESULTS: An increase in fish consumption, compared to a decrease, was associated with a 4.45-point reduction in pain intensity (95% CI: -7.06 to -1.84; p = 0.003). Increasing fish intake relative to no change corresponded to a 2-point reduction (95% CI: -3.71 to -0.29; p = 0.03). Conversely, increased coffee intake, compared to a decrease, was linked to a 6.56-point rise in pain intensity (95% CI: 3.93 to 9.19; p = 0.0001), and compared to no change, with a 2.83-point increase (95% CI: 1.48 to 4.18; p = 0.0004).
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing fish consumption was associated with changes in pain intensity in older adults, while increased coffee intake was linked to higher pain levels, however, caution is needed interpreting conclusions.
PMID:41206755 | DOI:10.1093/qjmed/hcaf247
Recent Comments