Pain and quality of life (QoL) in elderly: the Turkish experience

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of demographic and clinical determinants on pain and to investigate the possible risk factors that disrupt QoL.

The design of this research was a prospective study performed in tertiary care hospital-based physical medicine and rehabilitation departments. A comprehensive geriatric pain assessment (Geriatric Pain Scale, GPS) and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) assessment (Nottingham Health Profile, NHP) were performed.

Of the 275 patients, 76% were female and 59.6% were older than 70 years of age. Two hundred seventy four patients (99.7%) had various levels of pain. The mean age of the patent group was 72.77 ± 5.7 (min: 65, max: 96) years. The overall GPS was 60.41 ± 22 (min: 0, max: 99.9), and the total NHP score was 49.01 ± 22.4 (min: 0, max: 100). Correlation analyses showed that for the total GPS score, female gender, lower education, and economic status were significant determinants of higher levels of pain. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the NHP, GPS, Self-Reported Disability Index (SRDI), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were significant determinants of poorer HR-QOL.

There was a high prevalence of pain and being female, having low income, having low social support, having a higher rate of disability with related multiple comorbidities, and depression as related factors of HR-QOL. Strengthening these negative predictors of HR-QOL might enhance the efficiency of pain therapies in this population.