[Association between pain and depression in chilean older adults. Reality that requires an immediate approach]

ABASTRACT Background: To study the association between pain and depression, its characteristics and related factors in chilean older adults.

Cross-sectional analytical study of the National Survey of Dependence in Chilean older adults 2009, with a sample of 4766 people aged 60 years and older. Pain was described using a Likert scale from "no pain" to "very much pain". Depression was measured using the GDS-15 scale. Adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the association between pain and depression.

70% of the sample reported pain, 21.6% of high intensity. The screening was positive for depression in 23% of the sample, and 5% suspected severe depression. Both conditions were more frequent in women, subjects with low levels of schooling and rural residence. There was an association between pain and depression OR 3.46. The greater the intensity of pain, the greater the association OR 5.2 (95% CI 4.1-6.7) for depressive symptoms and OR 13.9 for suspected severe depression (95% CI 8.1-23.9).

The association between pain and depression is high and is related to pain intensity, being higher in people with less education and physical dependency. The high frequency of both conditions in Chilean elderly people and their serious consequences make it an urgent public health problem, aggravated as a consequence of the prolonged isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.