Prevalence of pain and its associated factors among the oldest-olds in different care settings – results of the AgeQualiDe study

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of pain is very common in the oldest age group. Managing pain successfully is a key topic in primary care, especially within the ageing population. Different care settings might have an impact on the prevalence of pain and everyday life.MethodsParticipants from the German longitudinal cohort study on Needs, Health Service Use, Costs and Health-related Quality of Life in a large Sample of Oldest-old Primary Care Patients (85+) (AgeQualiDe) were asked to rate their severity of pain as well as the impairment with daily activities. Besides gender, age, education, BMI and use of analgesics we focused on the current housing situation and on cognitive state. Associations of the dependent measures were tested using four ordinal logistic regression models. Model 1 and 4 consisted of the overall sample, model 2 and 3 were divided according to no cognitive impairment (NCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).ResultsResults show a decline in pain at very old age but nonetheless a high prevalence among the 85+ year olds. Sixty-three per cent of the participants report mild to severe pain and 69% of the participants mild to extreme impairment due to pain with daily activities. Use of analgesics, depression and living at home with care support are significantly associated with higher and male gender with lower pain ratings.ConclusionsSufficient pain management among the oldest age group is inevitable. Outpatient care settings are at risk of overlooking pain. Therefore focus should be set on pain management in these settings.

<p>Lifestyle Aspects As A Predictor Of Pain Among Oldest-Old Primary Care Patients – A Longitudinal Cohort Study</p>

“…Empowering the patients to actively change for a healthier lifestyle should be in the center of attention besides promoting preventive programs. Yet, while other research showed evidence that physical activity can impact on pain at a younger age,5 we could not show associations for our large study population. Given the high age of our participants maintaining the current health status could be more realistic than improving it.…”

“…Numbers on the prevalence of pain among older populations (75+) range between 25% and 80% which make pain management and prevention of pain necessary 4. Following our previous cross-sectional analyses on the prevalence of pain at old age, we recognized the importance of modifiable lifestyle factors which may play an important role in conjunction with preventing pain in the group of the old-old 5. In our study, 63% of oldest-old participants reported mild to severe pain as well as high impairments in activities of daily living (IADL) due to pain.…”

Clinical-pathological features and treatment of acute appendicitis in the very elderly: an interim analysis of the FRAILESEL Italian multicentre prospective study

“…(38,39) This is in line with other studies who report a reduction of pain in oldest old patients, probably linked to a greater capacity to endure or to report it. (40,41) However, our series did not show a signi cant increase rate of complicated AA in the oldest group, but nevertheless perforation or abscess at presentation are independent risk factors for overall morbidities.…”

Effectiveness and safety of yoga to treat chronic and acute pain: a rapid review of systematic reviews

“…These symptoms were responsible for 69% of the accounted disability in daily routine life activities. 7 2 Crevelário de Melo R, et al BMJ Open 2021;11:e048536. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048536…”

“…Among residents from long-term care facilities, 49%–83% report that they were regularly in pain. 7 More than 63% of older patients seen in primary healthcare also complain about acute pain. These symptoms were responsible for 69% of the accounted disability in daily routine life activities.…”