Pain Characteristics and Quality of Life in Older People at High Risk of Future Hospitalization

Mental health and contributing factors to mental wellbeing in older people at high risk of hospitalization in Sweden

OBJECTIVES

Aging is linked to physiological changes, increased vulnerability, and often psychological, cognitive, and social changes that might affect mental health. Our aim was to explore factors that contribute to mental wellbeing in older people with increased risk of hospitalization.

METHOD

This study is a part of a Swedish clinical trial: Secure And Focused primary care for older pEople (SAFE), and included 1169 community-dwelling people aged 75 years or older, with a high risk of hospitalization. An individual self-assessment questionnaire that included questions about health-related quality of life was analyzed. We focused on the health concepts of emotional wellbeing and energy/fatigue in RAND 36 and used multiple logistic regression to analyze associations.

RESULTS

The levels of emotional wellbeing were significantly positively associated with the body mass index (BMI), and negatively associated with the frequency of falling, feeling of loneliness, worry about the future, and the level of pain/discomfort (p < 0.05). The levels of energy were also significantly positively associated with activity level and the level of independency in activities of daily living (ADL) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study identifies several areas of concern for the mental health of older people with a high risk of hospitalization, making it possible to work proactively with these problem areas.

Effects of proactive healthcare on pain, physical and activities of daily living functioning in vulnerable older adults with chronic pain: a pragmatic clinical trial with one- and two-year follow-up

PURPOSE

To investigate the changes in pain, physical and activities of daily living (ADL) functioning in vulnerable older adults with chronic pain after proactive primary care intervention.

METHODS

This study was embedded in a prospective, pragmatic, matched-control multicenter trial at 19 primary care practices in Sweden, with proactive medical and social care (Intervention Group, IG, n = 134) in comparison with usual care (Control Group, CG, n = 121). Patients with chronic pain, defined as pain experienced longer than 3 months, were included in this subgroup analysis. Data on pain aspects, physical and ADL functioning were collected in the questionnaires at baseline, one- and two-year follow-up (FU-1 and FU-2). Data on prescribed pain medications was collected by local health authorities.

RESULTS

Mean age was 83.0 ± 4.7 years with almost equal representation of both genders. From baseline until FU-2, there were no significant within-group or between-group changes in pain intensity. Small adjustments of pain medication prescriptions were made in both groups. Compared to FU-1, the functional changes were more measurable at FU-2 as fewer participants had impaired physical functioning in IG (48.4%) in comparison to CG (62.6%, p = 0.027, Effect Size φ = 0.14). Higher scores of ADL-staircase (more dependent) were found in both groups (p < 0.01, Effect Size r = 0.24 in CG and r = 0.16 in IG).

CONCLUSION

Vulnerable older adults with chronic pain seemed to remain physical and ADL functioning after proactive primary care intervention, but they may need tailored strategies of pain management to improve therapeutic effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov 170608, ID: NCT03180606.

Efficacy of serious games for chronic pain management in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To synthesise and appraise the evidence of the efficacy of serious games in reducing chronic pain among older adults.

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain in older adults generally results in a substantial handicap due to decreased mobility, exercise avoidance and various concerns that affect their overall quality of life. While serious games have been widely used as a pain management approach, no reviews have thoroughly examined their efficacy for chronic pain management in older adult populations.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

The CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, PubMed and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched to find articles published from their inception until 17 April 2023. RoB-2 was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. The efficacy of serious games for pain management in older individuals was investigated using pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) in pain reduction using a random effect model.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis comprised nine randomised controlled trials that included 350 older adult patients with pain. Serious games effectively alleviated pain in this group (pooled SMD = -0.62; 95% confidence interval: -1.15 to -0.10), although pain-related disability and fear require further investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

Serious games tended to effectively reduce pain in this older adult group; however, due to a lack of randomised controlled trials, the analysis found lower effectiveness in reducing pain-related disability and fear. Further studies are accordingly required to confirm these findings.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings of the study emphasise the importance of serious games to increase the motivation of older adults to exercise as one of the safe and extensively used pain management strategies. Serious games that effectively reduce chronic pain in older adults are characterised as consisting of diverse physical activities delivered through consoles, computer-based activities and other technologies.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS

Serious games are recommended as being potentially useful and practical for reducing pain in older adults.

Socioeconomic variation in the prevalence of pain by anatomical sites among middle-aged and older adults in India: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pain is a significant global public health concern, particularly among individuals aged 45 and above. Its impact on the overall lifestyle of the individuals varies depending on the affected anatomical parts. Despite its widespread impact, there is limited awareness of the attributes of pain, making effective pain management challenging, particularly in India. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and variation in pain in different anatomical sites among middle-aged and older adults in India.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was employed, utilising data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), 2017-2018. The age-sex adjusted prevalence of pain by anatomical sites (the back, joints, and ankles) was estimated using a multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS

47% of individuals aged 45 years and above reported joint pain, 31% reported back pain and 20% suffered from ankle or foot pain. The prevalence of pain at all the anatomical sites increased with age and was reported higher among females. Relative to respondents aged 45-59 years, those aged 75 years and older exhibited a 41% higher likelihood of experiencing back pain (AOR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.19-1.67), a 67% higher likelihood of joint pain (AOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.49-1.89), and a 32% higher likelihood of ankle/foot pain (AOR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16-1.50). In comparison to males, females had a 56% higher likelihood of encountering back pain (AOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.40-1.74), a 38% higher likelihood of joint pain (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.27-1.50), and a 35% higher likelihood of ankle/foot pain (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17-1.57). We also found significant regional variations in pain prevalence, with higher rates in the mountainous regions of India.

CONCLUSION

This research highlights the high burden of pain in major anatomical sites among middle-aged and older adults in India and emphasises the need for increased awareness and effective pain management strategies.

Association between self-reported pain severity and characteristics of United States adults (age ≥50 years) who used opioids

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the associations between the characteristics of United States (US) adults (≥50 years) who used opioids and self-reported pain severity using a nationally representative dataset.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional database study used 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to identify US adults aged ≥50 years with self-reported pain within the past 4 weeks and ≥1 opioid prescription within the calendar year (n = 1,077). Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis modeled associations between various characteristics and self-reported pain severity (quite a bit/extreme vs less/moderate pain).

RESULTS

The adjusted logistic regression model indicated that greater odds of reporting quite a bit/extreme pain was associated with the following: age 50-64 vs ≥65 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-2.54), non-Hispanic vs Hispanic (AOR = 2.0; CI = 1.18-3.39), unemployed vs employed (AOR = 2.01; CI = 1.33-3.05), no health insurance vs private insurance (AOR = 6.80; CI = 1.43-32.26), fair/poor vs excellent/very good/good health (AOR = 3.10; CI = 2.19-4.39), fair/poor vs excellent/very good/good mental health (AOR = 2.16; CI = 1.39-3.38), non-smoker vs smoker (AOR = 1.80; CI = 1.19-2.71), and instrumental activity of daily living, yes vs no (AOR = 2.27; CI = 1.30-3.96).

CONCLUSION

Understanding the several characteristics associated with pain severity in US adults ≥50 years who used an opioid may help transform healthcare approaches to prevention, education, and management of pain severity in later life.

Do metrics derived from self-reported and clinician-reported pain drawings agree for individuals with chronic low back pain?

BACKGROUND

Clinicians commonly use pain drawings to define the spatial extent and location of a person's pain, but limited research has investigated who should perform the drawing.

OBJECTIVES

To establish the inter-rater reliability of pain extent and location derived from three sets of pain drawings for people with chronic low back pain: one self-reported and two clinician-reported. Additionally, convergent validity of pain extent was assessed using the same dataset.

DESIGN

Repeated-measures cross-sectional study.

METHOD

Fifteen patients with chronic low back pain and a pool of eight clinicians were involved to assess the reliability of pain extent and location extracted by self-report and clinician-reported pain drawings. Inter-rater reliability of pain extent was computed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland Altman analysis. Convergent validity of pain extent was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation. Inter-rater reliability of pain location was assessed using the Jaccard similarity index.

RESULTS

The inter-reliability analysis for pain extent, derived from self-reported and clinician-reported pain drawings, revealed ICC scores ranging from 0.39 to 0.51, all with wide confidence intervals. The mean Jaccard similarity indexes computed for pain location ranged from 0.60 to 0.65. Moderate to good correlation was found for pain extent derived by the sets of pain drawings.

CONCLUSIONS

Inter-rater reliability of pain extent and pain location derived from self-reported and clinician-reported pain drawings is poor in patients with chronic low back pain. The lack of reliability is also confirmed when considering only clinician-reported PDs. The convergent validity analysis of pain extent revealed that the two pain drawing approaches measure a similar construct.

Dizziness in older persons at high risk of future hospitalization: prevalence, differences between those with and without dizziness, and effect of a proactive primary care intervention

Background

Dizziness is a common reason for seeking care, and frequently affects older persons. The aims were to determine the prevalence of dizziness in older persons at high risk of hospitalization, to compare subjects with and without dizziness, and to examine the effects on dizziness of a proactive primary care intervention in comparison with conventional care after one year.

Methods

Data were derived from a prospective multicentre clinical trial in persons aged 75 and older and at high risk of hospitalization. A baseline questionnaire included demographic data, use of aids, questions about everyday physical activity and exercise, pain (intensity, frequency, and duration), activities of daily living measured using the ADL Staircase, and health-related quality of life measured using the EQ-5D-3L vertical visual analogue scale. Both at baseline and after one year, subjects were asked about dizziness, and those with dizziness answered the Dizziness Handicap Inventory – Screening version. Subjects in the intervention group were evaluated by a primary care team and when needed proactive care plans were established. Groups were compared using the Mann Whitney U-test or chi-squared test.

Results

Of the 779 subjects, 493 (63%) experienced dizziness. Persons with dizziness differed regarding sex, homecare service, aids, activities of daily living, health-related quality of life, physical activity, and pain. The intervention did not significantly reduce the level of dizziness.

Conclusions

Dizziness is common in vulnerable older persons, and individuals with dizziness differ in several respects. Further studies are needed employing more dizziness-specific assessment and individually tailored interventions.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov 170608, ID: NCT03180606.

The Critical Role of Oxidative Stress in Sarcopenic Obesity

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a combination of obesity and sarcopenia that primarily develops in older people. Patients with SO have high fat mass, low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low physical function. SO relates to metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of morbimortality. The prevalence of SO varies because of lacking consensus criteria regarding its definition and the methodological difficulty in diagnosing sarcopenia and obesity. SO includes systemic alterations such as insulin resistance, increased proinflammatory cytokines, age-associated hormonal changes, and decreased physical activity at pathophysiological levels. Interestingly, these alterations are influenced by oxidative stress, which is a critical factor in altering muscle function and the generation of metabolic dysfunctions. Thus, oxidative stress in SO alters muscle mass, the signaling pathways that control it, satellite cell functions, and mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum activities. Considering this background, our objectives in this review are to describe SO as a highly prevalent condition and look at the role of oxidative stress in SO pathophysiology.

Association of Pain and Impact of Dual-Task Exercise on Function, Cognition and Quality of Life

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the factors associated with pain and evaluate the impact of dual-task exercise on pain improvement, quality of life (QOL), cognition and function in older adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study is a secondary data analysis of the HAPPY (Healthy Ageing Promotion Program for You) study. At risk older adults ≥ 60 years old were enrolled in a community dual-task exercise program. Assessments for frailty, sarcopenia, falls, quality of life (QOL) and perceived health, depression, cognition and physical function were performed at baseline and 3 months. Pain intensity was derived from EQ-5D and stratified into no pain, slight pain and moderate to extreme pain.

RESULTS

Out of 296 participants, 37.2% had slight pain and 11.1% had moderate to severe pain. Both slight and moderate to extreme pain compared with no pain group were significantly associated with lower perceived health (68.2,63.6 vs 76.0) and QOL index (0.70,0.59 vs 0.93); moderate to extreme pain was also significantly associated with depression, low mental vitality, frailty, sarcopenia and poorer physical performance. After 3 months of dual-task exercise, pain improved in 70.8% of the moderate to extreme pain group and 50.8% of slight pain group. Significant improvement in perceived health, QOL, physical function and cognition were also observed.

CONCLUSION

Proactive efforts are required to screen for pain and manage frailty, sarcopenia and depression. Dual-task exercise proved safe and possibly effective in reducing pain and improving QOL, physical and cognitive function in older adults. Prospective randomized studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of dual-task vs single-task exercise, including impact of reversal of frailty and sarcopenia in pain management.