Table 2.
Comparison of self-reported comorbidities, pain and medication in the ex-footballers compared with the general population controls
| Footballers, n=572 |
Controls, n=500 |
P value | Adjusted relative risk (95% CI) (for age and BMI) | |
| Comorbidities* n (%) |
178 (30.58) | 260 (52.31) | <0.001 | 0.74 (0.63 to 0.85)† |
| Comorbidities (by Charlson Comorbidity Index weighting, mean (SD)), n(%)‡ | 0.44 (0.80) | 0.75 (0.98) | <0.001 | 0.71 (0.6–0.85)† |
| Diabetes, n (%) | 22 (3.77) | 57 (11.47) | <0.001 | 0.39 (0.24 to 0.63)† |
| Cancer, n (%) | 40 (6.86) | 50 (8.58) | 0.07 | 0.88 (0.59 to 1.30) |
| Heart attacks, n (%) | 18 (3.08) | 47 (9.46) | <0.001 | 0.43 (0.26 to 0.73)† |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 134 (22.98) | 169 (34.00) | <0.001 | 0.79 (0.65 to 0.96)† |
| Fibromyalgia, n (%) | 3 (0.51) | 1 (0.20) | 0.39 | 3.08 (0.31 to 31.02) |
| Any body pain, n (%) | 454 (78.14) | 330 (71.90) | 0.02 | 1.09 (1.00 to 1.17)§ |
| ACR criteria widespread body pain (no knee pain), n (%) | 48 (8.40) | 23 (4.60) | 0.01 | 1.88 (1.15 to 3.09)§ |
| Total regions with pain, mean (SD) | 3.13 (3.29) | 3.44 (3.05) | 0.14 | 0.91 (0.79 to 1.05) |
| Back pain, n (%) | 176 (30.18) | 146 (29.38) | 0.57 | 1.00 (0.76 to 1.32) |
| Knee pain, n (%) | 337 (57.80) | 193 (38.83) | <0.001 | 1.47 (1.29 to 1.69)§ |
| Pain medication use, n (%) | 240 (41.17) | 165 (33.20) | 0.007 | 1.54 (1.26 to 1.89)§ |
| Opioids, n (%) | 23 (4.03) | 32 (6.40) | 0.07 | 0.64 (0.37 to 1.10) |
| NSAIDS, n (%) | 49 (8.58) | 21 (4.20) | 0.004 | 1.94 (1.19 to 3.20)§ |
| OTC analgesics, n (%) | 137 (23.99) | 70 (14.00) | <0.001 | 1.86 (1.44 to 2.43)§ |
| Other medications, n (%)¶ | 18 (3.15) | 31 (6.20) | 0.01 | 0.50 (0.28–0.94)† |
*Diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, cancer and fibromyalgia.
†Protective factors.
‡Includes myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
§Risk factors.
¶Other medications with pain-relieving effects.
ACR, American College of Rheumatology; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; OTC, over-the-counter.