Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study.

Lilian Varanda Pereira,Gilberto De Araújo Pereira,Patrícia Pereira De Vasconcelos,Maria Márcia Bachion,Adélia Yaeko Kyosen Nakatani,Layz Alves Ferreira Souza

doi:10.1590/0104-1169.3591.2465

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to identify the prevalence and intensity of chronic pain among elderly people of the community and to analyze associations with the self-perceived health status. METHOD: cross-sectional study with a populational sample (n=934), conducted through household interviews in the city of Goiânia, Brazil. The intensity of chronic pain (existing for 6 months or more) was measured using a numerical scale (0-10) and the self-perceived health through a verbal scale (very good, good, fair, poor, very poor). For the statistical analysis, the absolute frequency and percentage, CI (95%), Chi-square test, Odds ratio, and regression analysis were used. Significance of 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic pain was 52.8% [CI (95%):49.4-56.1]; most frequently located in the lower limbs (34.5%) and lumbar region (29.5%); with high or the worst possible intensity for 54.6% of the elderly people. The occurrence of chronic pain was associated with (p<0.0001) a worse self-perception of health (OR=4.2:2.5-7.0), a greater number of chronic diseases (OR=1.8:1.2-2.7), joint disease (OR=3.5:2.4-5.1) and the female gender (OR=2.3:1.7-3.0). A lower intensity of chronic pain was associated with a better self-perception of health (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: the majority of the elderly people of the community reported chronic pain, of a severe intensity, and located in areas related to movement activities, thus influencing the morbidity and mortality of this population.

Highlights

Aging of the global population has been accompanied by a rising prevalence of chronic and degenerative diseases[1] and, a higher incidence of pain and disability[2,3]
National and international studies show that the prevalence of chronic pain among elderly people of the community ranges from 29.7% to 89.9%(4-8)
A relationship has been found between the occurrence of chronic pain[10], its increased intensity, and a prolonged period of living with it[11] and a worse self-perception of the health status, corroborating the findings of a study conducted in Canada[12], in which elderly people reported a worse self-perception of health in the presence of pain

Summary

Introduction

Aging of the global population has been accompanied by a rising prevalence of chronic and degenerative diseases[1] and, a higher incidence of pain and disability[2,3]. National and international studies show that the prevalence of chronic pain among elderly people of the community ranges from 29.7% to 89.9%(4-8). A relationship has been found between the occurrence of chronic pain[10], its increased intensity, and a prolonged period of living with it[11] and a worse self-perception of the health status, corroborating the findings of a study conducted in Canada[12], in which elderly people reported a worse self-perception of health in the presence of pain. The study of the factors that influence the health conditions in the elderly population, such as chronic pain, may indicate intervention strategies and action planning that promote well-being and, allow the impact of the interventions on the health and quality of life of elderly people to be evaluated

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion