Algorithms for managing patients over 60 years old with chronic joint and back pain

Abstract

Chronic pain syndrome is one of the most common geriatric syndromes. Chronic pain negatively affects the mobility and autonomy of the older person, reducing the quality of life and longevity. An active screening for chronic pain in the geriatric population improves the geriatric status. Treatment strategies for chronic pain in older patients include non-pharmacological measures as well as drug administration. However, advanced age is associated with high comorbidity, polypharmacy, and in some cases does not allow the active use of systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In this connection, the use of parenteral symptomatic slow-acting drugs, the representative of which is chondroitin sulfate (CS), becomes an alternative. The efficacy and safety of CS has been proven by the mean of clinical studies meta-analysis data of osteoarthritis treatment effectiveness with parenteral chondroitin sulfate, including patients with back pain.