Age, current self-reported opioid use, and physical function in adults living with chronic low back pain: A secondary analysis of a case-control study
Abstract
Background: Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability among adults in the United States. Current opioid use may be associated with pain severity and physical function, particularly among older adults who may be more vulnerable to medication-related adverse effects. This study examined the associations of age and current opioid use with pain severity and physical function.
Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a case-control study involving 208 adults aged 18–80 years living with chronic low back pain. Participants were categorized into three age groups: 18–34 years ( n = 85, 40.9%), 35–54 years ( n = 85, 40.9%), and 55–80 years ( n = 38, 18.3%). Participants were classified according to whether they reported current use of opioid pain medications for low back pain. Participants completed demographic and pain-related questionnaires at baseline and the Short Physical Performance Battery at a one-week follow-up. Linear regression and multivariate ANCOVA were used to assess associations and interactions between age, current opioid use, and physical function outcomes.
Results: Older age and current opioid use were independently associated with greater pain severity and reduced physical function (all p < .05). Significant age-by-opioid-use interactions were observed for total physical function, balance, and gait speed (all p ≤ .001). Participants aged 55–80 years who reported current opioid use had lower total physical function scores ( M = 6.86, SE = 0.69), balance scores ( M = 3.18, SE = 0.17), and gait speed scores ( M = 2.34, SE = 0.30) than age-matched participants who did not report current opioid use ( M = 9.55, SE = 0.31; M = 3.84, SE = 0.08; M = 3.57, SE = 0.14, respectively; all p ≤ .001).
Conclusions: Current opioid use was associated with greater pain severity and reduced physical function, particularly among older adults. Given the observational nature of this study, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Additional research is needed to better understand age-related differences in physical function among adults reporting current opioid use.
Trial registration: Not applicable. This study is a secondary analysis of previously collected data and was not prospectively registered.
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BibTeX
@article{taylor2026current,
title = {{Age, current self-reported opioid use, and physical function in adults living with chronic low back pain: A secondary analysis of a case-control study}},
author = {Taylor L. Taylor and Deanna D. Rumble and Kristen Allen-Watts and Lisa Antoine and Andrew Sims and Demario Overstreet and Jessica Jaiswal and Zionne McCrear and Tammie Quinn and Thomas W. Buford and Burel R. Goodin},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-30184-4},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-30184-4},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Age, current self-reported opioid use, and physical function in adults living with chronic low back pain: A secondary analysis of a case-control study
AU - Taylor L. Taylor
AU - Deanna D. Rumble
AU - Kristen Allen-Watts
AU - Lisa Antoine
AU - Andrew Sims
AU - Demario Overstreet
AU - Jessica Jaiswal
AU - Zionne McCrear
AU - Tammie Quinn
AU - Thomas W. Buford
AU - Burel R. Goodin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - BMC Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-30184-4
UR - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-30184-4
AB - Background: Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability among adults in the United States. Current opioid use may be associated with pain severity and physical function, particularly among older adults who may be more vulnerable to medication-related adverse effects. This study examined the associations of age and current opioid use with pain severity and physical function. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a case-control study involving 208 adults aged 18–80 years living with chronic low back pain. Participants were categorized into three age groups: 18–34 years ( n = 85, 40.9%), 35–54 years ( n = 85, 40.9%), and 55–80 years ( n = 38, 18.3%). Participants were classified according to whether they reported current use of opioid pain medications for low back pain. Participants completed demographic and pain-related questionnaires at baseline and the Short Physical Performance Battery at a one-week follow-up. Linear regression and multivariate ANCOVA were used to assess associations and interactions between age, current opioid use, and physical function outcomes. Results: Older age and current opioid use were independently associated with greater pain severity and reduced physical function (all p < .05). Significant age-by-opioid-use interactions were observed for total physical function, balance, and gait speed (all p ≤ .001). Participants aged 55–80 years who reported current opioid use had lower total physical function scores ( M = 6.86, SE = 0.69), balance scores ( M = 3.18, SE = 0.17), and gait speed scores ( M = 2.34, SE = 0.30) than age-matched participants who did not report current opioid use ( M = 9.55, SE = 0.31; M = 3.84, SE = 0.08; M = 3.57, SE = 0.14, respectively; all p ≤ .001). Conclusions: Current opioid use was associated with greater pain severity and reduced physical function, particularly among older adults. Given the observational nature of this study, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Additional research is needed to better understand age-related differences in physical function among adults reporting current opioid use. Trial registration: Not applicable. This study is a secondary analysis of previously collected data and was not prospectively registered.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -