Latent Aging Mechanisms in Pain and Sleep

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over the past month. It consists of 19 items grouped into seven components. Each component is scored from 0 to 3, and the component scores are summed to yield a global total score ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality. A total score greater than 5 is typically used to distinguish poor sleepers from good sleepers.

Time frame: PSQI was administered at baseline

Population: Baseline characteristics for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) are reported for participants who completed the baseline assessment and had complete PSQI data.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over the past month. It consists of 19 items grouped into seven components. Each component is scored from 0 to 3, and the component scores are summed to yield a global total score ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality. A total score greater than 5 is typically used to distinguish poor sleepers from good sleepers.

Time frame: PSQI was administered immediately after completing the 4-week intervention

Population: The number of participants analyzed post-intervention differs from the baseline assessment due to missing data. Two participants in Group A did not complete the PSQI at the post-intervention time point and were therefore excluded from the post-intervention analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a validated self-report questionnaire that assesses pain, stiffness, and physical function in individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. It includes 24 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = none to 4 = extreme), producing subscale scores and a total score. The total WOMAC score ranges from 0 to 96, with higher scores indicating worse symptoms and functional limitations.

Time frame: WOMAC was administered at baseline.

Population: The analysis population for the WOMAC at baseline includes all participants who were assigned to Group A (n=15) and Group B (n=18), as all completed the baseline assessment.

The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a validated self-report questionnaire that assesses pain, stiffness, and physical function in individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. It includes 24 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = none to 4 = extreme), producing subscale scores and a total score. The total WOMAC score ranges from 0 to 96, with higher scores indicating worse symptoms and functional limitations.

Time frame: WOMAC was administered after completing the 4-week intervention

The Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) is a validated self-report measure of pain intensity, commonly used in older adults. Participants are asked to select the descriptor that best represents their current pain level from six options: No pain, Mild, Moderate, Severe, Very severe, and Worst possible pain. Each descriptor corresponds to a numeric value from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

Time frame: VDS was administered at baseline

Population: The analysis population for the Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) at baseline includes all participants who were assigned to Group A (n=15) and Group B (n=18), as all completed the baseline assessment.

The Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) is a validated self-report measure of pain intensity, commonly used in older adults. Participants are asked to select the descriptor that best represents their current pain level from six options: No pain, Mild, Moderate, Severe, Very severe, and Worst possible pain. Each descriptor corresponds to a numeric value from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.

Time frame: VDS was administered immediately after completing the 4-week intervention

Population: The number of participants analyzed post-intervention differs from the baseline assessment due to missing data. Two participants in Group A did not complete the VDS at the post-intervention time point and were therefore excluded from the post-intervention analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is an 8-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the likelihood of dozing off or falling asleep during common daily activities. Each item is scored from 0 (would never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing). The total score is calculated by summing the scores across all 8 items, yielding a total range of 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater levels of daytime sleepiness.

Time frame: Baseline

Population: The number of participants analyzed differs from the number of participants assigned to the group due to missing data. Three participants in Group A, and two in Group B, did not complete the ESS at the baseline time point and were, therefore, excluded from the baseline analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is an 8-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the likelihood of dozing off or falling asleep during common daily activities. Each item is scored from 0 (would never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing). The total score is calculated by summing the scores across all 8 items, yielding a total range of 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater levels of daytime sleepiness.

Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (4 weeks)

Population: The number of participants analyzed differs from the number of participants assigned to the group due to missing data. Three participants in Group A did not complete the ESS at the post-intervention time point and were, therefore, excluded from the post-intervention analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire-10 (FOSQ-10) is a 10-item self-report instrument that assesses the impact of excessive daytime sleepiness on daily functioning across five domains. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (extreme difficulty) to 4 (no difficulty). The total score is calculated by averaging items within each domain and summing the domain means. Total scores range from 5 to 20, with higher scores indicating better functional status and less impairment.

Time frame: Baseline

Population: The number of participants analyzed differs from the number of participants assigned to the group due to missing data. Three participants in Group A, and two in Group B, did not complete the FOSQ-10 at the baseline time point and were, therefore, excluded from the baseline analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire-10 (FOSQ-10) is a 10-item self-report instrument that assesses the impact of excessive daytime sleepiness on daily functioning across five domains. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (extreme difficulty) to 4 (no difficulty). The total score is calculated by averaging items within each domain and summing the domain means. Total scores range from 5 to 20, with higher scores indicating better functional status and less impairment.

Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (4 weeks)

Population: The number of participants analyzed post-intervention differs from the baseline assessment due to missing data. Two participants in Group A did not complete the FOSQ-10 at the post-intervention time point and were therefore excluded from the post-intervention analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The PainDETECT Questionnaire is a validated self-report instrument used to assess the likelihood of a neuropathic pain component in individuals with chronic pain. It includes 9 items that assess pain intensity, pain patterns, and sensory descriptors. The total score ranges from -1 to 38, with higher scores indicating a greater probability of neuropathic pain. A score ≥19 suggests likely neuropathic pain, 13-18 indicates possible neuropathic pain, and ≤12 suggests that neuropathic pain is unlikely.

Time frame: Baseline

The PainDETECT Questionnaire is a validated self-report instrument used to assess the likelihood of a neuropathic pain component in individuals with chronic pain. It includes 9 items that assess pain intensity, pain patterns, and sensory descriptors. The total score ranges from -1 to 38, with higher scores indicating a greater probability of neuropathic pain. A score ≥19 suggests likely neuropathic pain, 13-18 indicates possible neuropathic pain, and ≤12 suggests that neuropathic pain is unlikely.

Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (4 weeks)

Population: The number of participants analyzed post-intervention differs from the baseline assessment due to missing data. Two participants in Group A did not complete the Pain Detect at the post-intervention time point and were, therefore, excluded from the post-intervention analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2) is a validated 22-item self-report instrument that assesses the multidimensional experience of pain. Items are grouped into four subscales-continuous, intermittent, neuropathic, and affective pain-and each item is rated from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) based on pain intensity over the past week. The total score is calculated as the average of all 22 item scores, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity.

Time frame: Baseline

Population: The number of participants analyzed differs from the number of participants assigned to the group due to missing data. One participant in Group B did not complete the SF-MPQ-2 at baseline time point and was, therefore, excluded from the baseline analysis. All other participants included had complete data.

The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2) is a validated 22-item self-report instrument that assesses the multidimensional experience of pain. Items are grouped into four subscales-continuous, intermittent, neuropathic, and affective pain-and each item is rated from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) based on pain intensity over the past week. The total score is calculated as the average of all 22 item scores, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity.

Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (4 weeks)

Population: The number of participants analyzed post-intervention differs from the baseline assessment due to missing data. Two participants in Group A did not complete the SF-MPQ-2 at the post-intervention time point and were, therefore, excluded from the post-intervention analysis. All other participants included had complete data.