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Abstract Background Foot pain is common and disabling in older adults however little is known about its course. The objective of this study was to identify foot pain trajectories over seven years and examine the associations between progressive symptom trajectories and potential prognostic factors. Methods All adults aged ≥50 years registered with four general practices in North Staffordshire, UK were mailed a health survey at baseline. Those reporting foot pain in the previous 12 months were invited to attend a research clinic that included a standardised interview, physical examination, and plain radiographs of the feet. Follow-up was by repeated postal surveys at 18 months, three years, 54 months, and seven years. Trajectories of repeated measures of foot pain severity in the previous month (10-point numerical rating scale) were identified using Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA). Logistic regression was undertaken to explore the relationship between these trajectories and both person-level and foot-level prognostic factors adjusted for covariates (age, gender, and body mass index). Results Of 560 adults with foot pain attending baseline research clinics, 425 (76%) provided data at baseline and ≥two follow-up time-points and were included in the analysis. The optimum LGCA model for foot pain severity was a 4-class model with the following trajectories: mild improving pain (n = 109, 26%); moderate improving pain (n = 179, 42%); moderate persistent pain (n = 122, 29%); severe persistent pain (n = 15, 4%). Compared with individuals with mild/moderate improving pain trajectories, those with moderate/severe persistent pain trajectories over 7 years did not differ significantly by age, sex, foot posture or radiographic foot OA phenotype at baseline, but were more likely to be overweight/obese. After adjustment for covariates, these less favourable long-term trajectories were associated with lower socioeconomic position, poorer physical and mental health, catastrophising, greater foot-specific functional limitation (Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index), and self-reported hallux valgus at baseline (Table 1). Conclusion Over a 7-year period, one-third of individuals had persistent moderate to severe pain. Targeting interventions to modifiable prognostic factors such as obesity and hallux valgus may have the potential to improve long-term outcomes in people with foot pain. Disclosures M. Marshall None. M. Blagojevic-Bucknall None. T. Rathod-Mistry None. M.J. Thomas None. J.J. Edwards Other; JJE is part of The Keele Academic General Practice which has received funding from Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop and evaluate a quality improvement tool in anticoagulation. G. Peat None. H.B. Menz None. E. Roddy None.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/rheumatology/keaa111.060

Type

Journal article

Journal

Rheumatology

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Publication Date

01/04/2020

Volume

59