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Pain and depression in older adults with arthritis
1Uloma D. Onubogu, PhD, MSN, MSEd, APRN-BC, Associate Professor, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.
Background:
The experience of chronic pain negatively impacts the general health of individuals. Evidence shows that depression and chronic pain co-occur, and both experiences tend to worsen as the number of comorbidities increases.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between pain and depression as well as the impact of number of comorbidities in older adults with arthritis.
Method:
A cross-sectional analysis of existing data was conducted with a sample of 1,592 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 74.3 years, SD = 5.9 years).
Findings:
The majority of participants reported the presence of bodily pain. Mild depressive symptoms and multimorbidities were found. More severe pain correlated with a higher number of comorbidities and worsening depression.
Implications:
Prevalence and impact of pain and other co-occurring conditions suggest their importance in planning care for the elderly with arthritis.
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