Journal of Pain Research (Jun 2018)

Chronic pain and geriatric syndromes in community-dwelling patients aged ≥65 years

  • Liberman O,
  • Freud T,
  • Peleg R,
  • Keren A,
  • Press Y

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 11
pp. 1171 – 1180

Abstract

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Orly Liberman,1 Tamar Freud,2 Roni Peleg,2,3 Ariela Keren,1 Yan Press2,4,5 1Nursing Department, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; 2Department of Family Medicine, Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; 3Pain Clinic, Clalit Health Services, Beer-Sheva, Israel; 4Yasski Clinic, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Unit, Clalit Health Services, Beer-Sheva, Israel; 5Unit for Community Geriatrics, Division of Health in the Community, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel Background: In growing elderly populations, there is a heavy burden of comorbidity and a high rate of geriatric syndromes (GS) including chronic pain. Purpose: To assess the prevalence of chronic pain among individuals aged ≥65 years in the Southern District of Israel and to evaluate associations between chronic pain and other GS. Methods: A telephone interview was conducted on a sample of older adults who live in the community. The interview included the Brief Pain Inventory and a questionnaire on common geriatric problems. Results: Of 419 elderly individuals who agreed to be interviewed 232 (55.2%) suffered from chronic pain. Of those who reported chronic pain, 136 participants (68.6%) noted that they had very severe or unbearable pain. There were statistically significant associations between the pain itself and decline in patient’s functional status, increased falls, reduced mood, and cognitive decline. Conclusion: The results of this study show that chronic pain is very common in older adults and that it is associated with other GS. There is a need to increase awareness of chronic pain in older adults and to emphasize the important role that it plays in their care. Keywords: pain, impact of pain, older adults, geriatric syndromes, community dwelling

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