Bagcilar Medical Bulletin (Sep 2023)
High Prevalence of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Analgesics Use Habits in the Geriatric Population with Chronic Kidney Disease
Abstract
Objective:Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a risk of unsuccessful pain management and kidney injury using analgesics inappropriately. In this study, the prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) and analgesics use habits was investigated in a geriatric population with non-dialysis dependent CKD, as well as the frequency of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or paracetamol use.Method:This single-center cross-sectional study recruited patients over 65 years under follow-up for non-dialysis dependent CKD in nephrology clinic at least 1 year. Frequency of chronic pain was evaluated by Cornell musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire. Pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS).Results:A hundred forty-two (52.8%) of 269 CKD patients had CMP. Patients with CMP were older than individuals without CMP (p=0.042). A hundred twenty-nine male patients and 140 female patients were present. Patients with CMP had a substantially higher ratio of females and mean body mass index than patients without CMP (p=0.0001). 9.7% of patients used paracetamol overall, while 42.8% utilized NSAIDs. 10.2% of non-CMP patients and 71.8% of CMP patients were reported to use NSAIDs (p=0.0001). Mean VAS score for patients with CMP was 5.01±2.07, and 48.6% of them reported moderate to severe pain. VAS score and estimated glomerular filtration rate level was similar regardless of analgesic type. Family physicians prescribed NSAIDs in 57.8% of cases, emergency medicine physicians in 9.0%, orthopedist in 17.5%, and others in 15.7% (p<0.0001).Conclusion:Based on high frequency of CMP, NSAIDs usage and prescriptions in elderly patients with CKD, an accurate risk assessment must be individualized in these patients based on CKD stage, age, comorbid conditions, and concomitant medication use.
Keywords
