Table 1.
Sample characteristics and their unadjusted associations with substantial pain obtained using univariable regression models.
| N (%) or mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] | Unadjusted odds ratio (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | N = 2,295 | 45.5 (45.1–46.0) | 1.02 (1.01–1.03) |
| Gender | Male | 407 (17.8) | Reference |
| Female | 1,885 (82.2) | 1.81 (1.39–2.35) | |
| Years since diagnosis | First quartile (<4) | 684 (29.1) | Reference |
| Second quartile (4–7) | 529 (22.5) | 1.26 (0.97–1.63) | |
| Third quartile (7–13) | 575 (24.5) | 1.63 (1.27–2.09) | |
| Fourth quartile (>13) | 564 (24.0) | 1.55 (1.21–1.99) | |
| Type of multiple sclerosis (MS) | Relapsing remitting | 1,448 (61.5) | Reference |
| Benign | 97 (4.1) | 0.32 (0.16–0.62) | |
| Primary progressive | 170 (7.2) | 1.39 (0.99–1.95) | |
| Secondary progressive | 267 (11.4) | 1.99 (1.52–2.61) | |
| Progressive relapsing | 47 (2.0) | 3.73 (2.07–6.72) | |
| Other | 324 (13.8) | 1.05 (0.80–1.37) | |
| Relapse in previous 12 months (relapsing remitting MS only) | Yes | 654 (46.3) | 2.46 (2.03–2.97) |
| No | 759 (53.7) | Reference | |
| Disability level | Normal to some disability | 1,263 (55.2) | Reference |
| Gait/cane disability | 787 (34.4) | 3.42 (2.79–4.19) | |
| Major mobility support | 240 (10.5) | 4.01 (2.99–5.38) | |
| DMD use | Yes | 1,133 (50.0) | 1.12 (0.94–1.35) |
| No | 1,132 (50.0) | Reference | |
| Pain medication | No pain medication | 1,178 (52.0) | Reference |
| Over the counter or herbal pain medication only | 611 (27.0) | 3.39 (2.66–4.33) | |
| Prescription pain medicationa | 476 (21.0) | 13.39 (10.36–17.32) | |
DMD, disease-modifying drug.
aSome people taking prescription medication were also taking over the counter or herbal pain medication.