Lower body osteoarticular pain and dose of analgesic medications in older disabled women: the Women's Health and Aging Study.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed use and dosage of analgesic medications in relation to severity of osteoarticular pain.


METHODS
The type and dose of analgesic medication and the severity of pain in the lower back, hips, knees, or feet of 1002 older disabled women were assessed.


RESULTS
Severe pain and the use of analgesic medications were reported by 48.5% and 78.8% of women, respectively. Among those who had severe pain, 41.2% were using less than 20% of the maximum analgesic dose. Overall, 6.6% of women were using more than 100% of the maximum dose.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe pain is common. Additional, more effective, and safe analgesic treatments are needed for controlling pain in older persons.
Pahor
M
M
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38105, USA. mpahor@utmem1.utmem.edu
Guralnik
J M
JM
Wan
J Y
JY
Ferrucci
L
L
Penninx
B W
BW
Lyles
A
A
Ling
S
S
Fried
L P
LP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015142:Baltimore; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014930:Women
D000700:Analgesics