QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Extracto Full Text PDF Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Articles Ahead of Print [Order Reprint] Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hartikainen, S. A Articles by Sulkava, R. O Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hartikainen, S. A Articles by Sulkava, R. O

GERIATRICS

Balancing Pain and Analgesic Treatment in the Home-Dwelling Elderly

Professor, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland; Senior Consultant, Municipal Hospitals of Kuopio, Kuopio

Pekka T Mäntyselkä, MD PhD

Clinical Lecturer, Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio; Consultant, Unit of General Practice, Kuopio University Hospital

Kirsti A Louhivuori-Laako, PhD

Statistician, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio

Raimo O Sulkava, MD PhD

Professor, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio

Reprints: Dr. Hartikainen, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland, fax 358 17 162 937, Sirpa.Hartikainen{at}uku.fi

BACKGROUND: In elderly persons, pain is a common problem, and analgesic medicines are among the most frequently used drugs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of analgesic medication and its relation to daily pain and morbidity in home-dwelling elderly people aged at least 75 years.

METHODS: A random sample of 700 subjects aged at least 75 years was drawn from the total population of Kuopio, Finland. A geriatrician and nurse carried out structured clinical examinations and interviews with 601 persons, 523 of whom were living at home.

RESULTS: Seventy percent (n = 364) of the elderly people were taking at least one analgesic, including most of those who suffered from daily interfering pain (85%) and nearly all of those experiencing daily pain at rest (93%). Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; n = 226, 51%) and acetaminophen (n = 118, 23%) were the most commonly used analgesics. The use of opioids became more common with age, accounting for 16% of the drugs in the oldest patients (85 y) and 6% among those aged 75-79 years. Analgesics were mainly taken when needed. Only 13% of NSAID users, 18% of acetaminophen users, and 21% of opioid users took these preparations regularly.

CONCLUSIONS: Although analgesics are commonly used by elderly patients, it appeared that many patients were still experiencing daily interfering pain and pain at rest.

Key Words: analgesic, elderly, pain

Published Online, December 14, 2004. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1E272