title: Chronic pain in a sample of nursing home residents: prevalence, characteristics, influence on quality of life (QoL).
abstract: Chronic pain is common in the elderly, but it is often under-estimated and under-treated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain in nursing home residents and to analyze its influence on patient's QoL and functional status. We studied 105 patients (mean age 82.2+/-9 years), living in two nursing homes in Torino, Italy. The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MGPQ), the Visual Analogical Scale (VAS) and the Face Pain Scale (FPS) were used to test pain. Depression, functional and cognitive status were also evaluated by using specific instruments, such as the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments were documented. It was found that chronic pain was present in 82.9% of the sample; it lasted over 24 months and it was persistent in half of them (49.4%). We observed that chronic pain in the elderly has a strong affective component and its intensity influences older patients' mood, nutrition, sleep and QoL. Our study showed that chronic pain was under-treated. We conclude that chronic pain in institutionalized elderly is common and worsens patients' QoL. It is important to assess and manage pain as a relevant problem in particular for the population at increased risk for under-recognition and under-treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Surgical Department, Geriatric Section, University of Torino, C.so Bramante 88, I-10126 Torino, Italy. elisa.martinelli@unito.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanocchi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maero
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicola
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luppino
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonella
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gariglio
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fissore
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bardelli
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obialero
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molaschi
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life