| Popis: |
The US population is aging with those 65 years or older reaching 70 million (20% of the population) by the year 2030. Chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer, and diabetes prevalent in older Americans will contribute to the increasing costs of health care. Despite the frequency of pain and the suffering that occurs, it is often underreported and undertreated in older people. The incidence of undertreated pain ranges from 25 to 50% in adult communities, from 45 to 80% in nursing homes, and as high as 85% in long-term care facilities. Since cures for many of the chronic conditions manifesting in older patients are not always readily available, there must be a focus on the management of the pain associated with these conditions. There are multiple treatment modalities which have been shown to be effective for older people. The choice of pharmacologic treatment for an individual patient will depend upon multiple factors, including the source and pathophysiology of the pain, and the presence of comorbid conditions. Combining pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options helps keep the drug effects lower. The growing number and types of analgesics available permit an individualized pharmacologic regimen that targets chronic pain while addressing the issues associated with treating older patients. The goal of this chapter is to explore the topic of pain in the older persons including neurophysiology, measurement of pain in the cognitively intact and nonintact patients, and psychosocial issues associated with pain. Complementary and alternative modalities and pain at the end of life will also be discussed. Suggestions will be made about the future research in the field of pain and aging. |
