553: Lower Phase Angle Is Associated With Worse Pain-Related Quality of Life in Korean women

Topic: Education, Societal Impact, and Others
Subtopic: Education of pain care

Background and Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the association between phase angle and pain that affects quality of life, as assessed by the health-related quality of life instrument with 8 items (HINT-8).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the 2023 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Women who completed the HINT-8 pain item (past week) were included and classified as no pain group (HINT-8 pain = 1; no impact of pain on QOL) and any pain group (HINT-8 pain ≥ 2; any pain-related reduction in QOL). Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between phase angle (cutoff 4.6) and any pain.

Results: Among 2,832 participants, 905 were in the no pain group and 1,927 in the any pain group. In multivarite logistic regression anlaysis, participants with a phase angle ≥ 4.6 had a significantly lower risk of pain affecting QOL (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.655, 0.984; p = 0.034). When participants were stratified by age (< 65 vs ≥ 65 years), the inverse association remained significant in those aged ≥ 65 years (adjusted OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.458, 0.994; p = 0.047). However, there no significant relationship within BMI subgroups.

Conclusions: Phase angle may be a usful indicator to indirectly identify pain-related QOL impairment among Korean women. In addition, maintaining a higher phase angle through lifestyle habits that help protect cell membrane may contribute to lowering the risk of pain-related QOL impairment.

References: 1. Kim J, Jo MW, Lee HJ, Ahn SH, Son BH, Lee JW, et al. Validity and reliability of the Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8) in Korean breast cancer patients. Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2021;12(4):254-263. doi:10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0005.
2. Kim J, Lee HJ, Jo MW. Health-related Quality of Life Instrument With 8 Items for use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A validation study in Korea. J Prev Med Public Health. 2022;55(3):234-242. doi:10.3961/jpmph.22.020.
3. Lee EH. Internal structure of the Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument with 8-Items in a nationally representative population. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2023;53(3):359-369. doi:10.4040/jkan.23007.
4. Kweon S, Kim Y, Jang MJ, Kim Y, Kim K, Choi S, et al. Data resource profile: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Int J Epidemiol. 2014;43(1):69-77. doi:10.1093/ije/dyt228.
5. Akamatsu Y, Kusakabe T, Arai H, Yamamoto Y, Nakao K, Ikeue K, et al. Phase angle from bioelectrical impedance analysis is a useful indicator of muscle quality. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2022;13(1):180-189. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12860.
6. Lee D, Won CW, Kim M. Normative reference values of the phase angle for Korean population: An analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2025;37(1):226. doi:10.1007/s40520-025-03130-4.

Presenting Author: Seon-Mi Lee
Submitting Author: Seon-Mi Lee

Senior Author: Sunmin Kim

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Sunmin Kim: Dr. - Korea University Anam Hospital