[Evaluation of chronic pain in geriatric patients]

This retrospective study considers the influence of chronological age on the perception and consequential effects of chronic non-cancer pain in 203 patients referred to an ambulatory pain clinic. One patient in four (50) was 65 years or older. Pain had existed for more than a year in 66%. It was referred to an "unbearable" by 54% of elderly adults vs 44% (NS) of the younger adult population, and as "intense" by 61% vs 44% (p < 0.05). A higher proportion of neurogenic pain (54% vs 26%, p < 0.05) could explain this significant difference. Cognitive factors could also have amplified the painful syndrome since 59% (vs 54%) of the elderly considered they had received insufficient information on the potential consequences of their painful condition. However, despite a higher occurrence of other severe illnesses in the elderly (52% vs 35%, p < 0.05), they appear to worry less about their health problems (58% vs 78%, p < 0.01). Finally, in spite of increased severity of pain in the elderly, depression scores and consequential effects are similar in the two populations. In conclusion, the intensity of chronic pain appears to be more severe in the elderly, perhaps due to its more frequent neuropathic origin. Nonetheless, its repercussions on daily life activity seem no worse than for younger adults, and could reflect better coping strategies towards chronic pain.