Evaluation of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for Measuring Prevalence and the Consequence of Pain in a Danish Adult OI Population: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Pain is a challenge in persons with OI and causes much concern in the Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) population. We aim to evaluate the usability of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to identify painful sites in adults with OI and to describe the occurrence of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and its impact on their work and daily activities. This cross-sectional pilot study uses the OI-NMQ to study MSK pain prevalence in nine separate anatomical regions (neck, upper back, lower back, shoulder, elbow, hand/wrist, hip, knee, and ankle/foot) and its impact on regular work and daily activities in adults with OI. The questionnaire was distributed among participants of the 2023 annual meeting of The Danish OI Society. The response rate was 68%, and all participants considered the OI-NMQ helpful in assessing the presence of pain and its consequences. The analysis included 27 adults with OI type I, III, or IV above 18 years. Among all 27 participants, MSK pain was present in 15–56% of the 9 sites within the last 7 days and 33–89% of the nine anatomical regions during the last 12 months. In 7–48% of all the participants, their regular work and daily activities had been affected by the presence of MSK pain. The OI-NMQ was feasible in assessing MSK pain among adults with OI and displayed a high prevalence of MSK pain with a moderate impact on their regular work and daily activities in this OI population. A larger and repeated measurement of MSK pain in adults with OI is needed to confirm these results.