Chronic Pain and Associated Factors Related to Depression among Older Patients in Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

The interaction of chronic pain and depression among older people has been studied for many years. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of chronic pain and depression among older patients and correlated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 921 older patients at the National Geriatric Hospital from November 2019 to March 2020. We used the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to assess the comorbid condition, a numerical rating scale (NRS) to examine pain severity, and Geriatric Depression Scale—15 items (GDS-15) to measure depression among participants. A chi-square test and Tobit regression were used to analyze the relationships. A total of 921 older patients participated in the study. The proportion of depression accounted for 55.8%. The mean Charlson score and number of diseases were 1.2 and 4.7, respectively. A positive correlation was found between comorbidity and chronic pain and depression. Moreover, socio-demographic variables such as occupation, education, and income were associated with pain and depressive symptoms. This study highlights the issue of mental health in older people with chronic pain. The results indicate the necessity of frequent depression screening, pain management, and social activity programs for older people to enhance their health.

Association of pain and quality of life among middle-aged and older adults of India

“…sleep, ability to exercise, perform household chores, walk, attend social affairs and maintain independent lifestyles [13,14]. and may lead to depression or anxiety [15][16][17][18]. Individuals suffering from pain are also vulnerable to substance abuse and other mental health issues [19,20].…”

Chronic Lumbar Pain and Insomnia in College-Aged Students

“…Numerous mechanisms by which chronic lower back pain can induce insomnia exist. Chronic pain (not only chronic lower back pain) has been shown to impact both physical and psychological health as it is likely to be accompanied by decreased movement [41] and walking motion [42], along with higher rates of depression [41,43]. During bouts of lower back pain, the sympathetic nervous system is activated [44], while the continuity of chronic lower back pain can lead to its overactivity, thereby increasing the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in the body [45,46] in a process known to be associated with sleep disorders [47].…”

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