Effective chronic pain management can improve quality of life and compliance of elderly patients

Czech version

Authors: Hana Matějovská Kubešová
Authors‘ workplace: Klinika interní, geriatrie a praktického lékařství LF MU a FN Brno
Published in: Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2021, 10, č. 3: 135-140
Category: Review Article

Overview

The presence of pain causes anxiety, restlessness, impairs the patient‘s ability to cooperate, causes states of confusion and can lead to verbal or physical aggression. Pain has a complex effect on the quality of life not only of the senior himself, but also negatively affects his caregiver. Tenths percent of seniors suffer from chronic pain and its appearance increases further at higher age. About one third sniors living in their owm environment and two thirds of social facility residents are considered to experience long term chronic pain. While the pain threshold increases in elderly patients, the pain tolerance threshold decreases. Despite the obvious consequences of its presence, pain is very often underdiagnosed and insufficiently treated in elderly patients. One of diagnostic difficulties is the cognitive decline, there is necessary to incorporate objective diagnostic tools into pain evaluation on time. An important aspect is the relationship between chronic pain and depression. Chronic pain potentiates the onset or worsening depression, the presence of depression worsens the perception and consequenes of chronic pain. In the treatment of chronic pain in the elderly, it is appropriate to use the positive influence of its psychosocial dimension and to plan the treatment with regard to the patient‘s current compliance.

Keywords:

chronic pain – compliance – depression – cognitive decline – pein treshold – pain tolerance – independence – pain treatment

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