Chronic pain among community-dwelling elderly: a population-based clinical study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pain Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic pain is a prevalent issue among the elderly, impacting their overall well-being and daily functioning.
• Independent living in the elderly does not preclude the presence of significant chronic pain conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, causes, impact, and management of chronic pain in independently living older adults.
• To understand the specific types of chronic pain and their association with quality of life in the elderly population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey involving 460 elderly individuals across three age cohorts (75, 80, and 85 years) was conducted.
• Clinical assessments were performed on 106 patients with chronic pain (duration ≥ 3 months, intensity ≥ 4/10, or moderate interference) to determine pain characteristics and etiology.

Main Results:

• 175 out of 460 subjects reported chronic pain, with musculoskeletal pain being the most common (83%).
• Neuropathic pain was identified in up to 40% of cases, with a mean pain intensity of 5.7/10 and significant interference in daily life (5.9/10).
• While 77% used regular pain medication (commonly paracetamol or NSAIDs), specific neuropathic pain treatments were rarely employed.

Conclusions:

• Chronic pain, particularly musculoskeletal and neuropathic types, is common in the elderly and negatively affects their perceived health, mobility, and emotional state (sadness, loneliness, tiredness).
• Despite the high prevalence of neuropathic pain, undertreatment with specific medications was observed, potentially due to side effects or patient reluctance.
• Although quality of life indicators like health and mobility declined, overall life satisfaction remained comparable between those with and without chronic pain.