Allostatic load and pain severity in older adults: Results from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

ABSTRACT: Pain is common in older adults, is frequently experienced as stressful, and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Stress regulatory systems are adaptive to challenge and change, allostasis, until demands exceed the adaptive capacity contributing to dysregulation, resulting in a high allostatic load. A high allostatic load is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Pain severity, based on the average intensity of frequent pain, was hypothesized to be positively associated with AL. Four formulations of AL were investigated. Cross-sectional data from Wave 4 (2008-2009) of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) were analyzed. Covariates in the model included age, sex, education, smoking status, alcohol consumption, activity level, depression and commo

SUBMITTER: Sibille KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5326483 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature