Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Geriatrics
Pain in older people: often unrecognised and undertreated
Recent articles on:
Pain
Pain
Abstract
Pain is not a normal part of ageing and it is often unreported, unrecognised and undertreated in older patients. Appropriate treatment is required to ensure this population is managed effectively.
Key Points
- Pain is not a normal part of ageing; its high prevalence in older people is secondary to the burden of pathology.
- Pain in older people is often unreported, unrecognised and undertreated.
- The absence of pain in the elderly does not exclude the possibility of serious illness – e.g. silent myocardial infarction.
- A multidisciplinary approach to treating pain in older people is often more effective than drug therapy alone.
- Treatment approaches and goals need to be modified to suit the needs of the older person.
Purchase the PDF version of this article
Already a subscriber? Login here.