Chronic pain in elderly and senile patients: clinical recommendations and difficulties in real practice

Abstract

Chronic pain syndrome is one of the most common geriatric syndromes, it has an impact on person’s self-management, worsens the life quality and shortens life expectancy. Reduced mobility, the need for external assistance due to chronic pain lead to an increase in the costs of the healthcare system. The peculiarity of the elderly and senile patient management with chronic pain is the need to assess not only the pain syndrome itself, but also polymorbid pathology and other geriatric syndromes that affect the pain pathogenesis. A patient-centered care for elderly persons with chronic pain, developed on the basis of a comprehensive geriatric assessment, should include interventions aimed at correcting geriatric syndromes, the range and activity of movements and the pain negative consequences. The drug treatment of pain syndrome is determined by its intensity and the risks of developing adverse events (especially in the case of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The most correct treatment tactics of chronic pain is the basic therapy indication for diseases that cause the pain development. KEYWORDS: chronic pain, geriatric syndromes, comprehensive geriatric assessment, osteoarthritis, autonomy, mobility, nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs, symptomatic slow-acting drugs. FOR CITATION: Naumov A.V., Khovasova N.O., Polyanskaya A.R., Tokareva L.G., Tkacheva O.N. Chronic pain in elderly and senile patients: clinical recommendations and difficulties in real practice. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2023;7(10):680–686 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821- 2023-7-10-11.