Jinjiao Wang1, Mary S Dietrich1,2, Sandra F Simmons3, Ronald L Cowan2,4, Todd B Monroe1,2,4. 1. a Vanderbilt University School of Nursing , Nashville , TN , USA. 2. b Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , TN , USA. 3. c Center for Quality Aging , Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , TN , USA. 4. d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , TN , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine pain interference in verbally communicative older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to examine the association of pain interference with cognitive function and depressive symptoms. METHOD: For this pilot study, we used a cross-sectional design to examine pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Exam), and depressive symptoms (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale) in 52 older (≥65) communicative adults with AD who reported being free from chronic pain requiring daily analgesics. RESULTS: Pain was reported to interfere with general activity (13.5%), mood (13.5%), walking ability (13.5%), normal work (11.5%), enjoyment of life (11.5%), relationships with other people (9.6%), and sleep (9.6%). Pain interference was significantly positively correlated with both cognitive function (rs = 0.46, p = 0.001) and depressive symptomology (rs = 0.45, p = 0.001), indicating that greater reported pain interference was associated with better cognitive function and more depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Among older people with AD who report being free from chronic pain requiring daily analgesics, 2 in 10 are at risk of pain interference and depressive symptoms. Those with better cognitive function reported more pain interference and depressive symptoms, meaning pain is likely to be under-reported as AD progresses. Clinicians should regularly assess pain interference and depressive symptoms in older persons with AD to identify pain that might be otherwise overlooked..
OBJECTIVES: To examine pain interference in verbally communicative older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to examine the association of pain interference with cognitive function and depressive symptoms. METHOD: For this pilot study, we used a cross-sectional design to examine pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Exam), and depressive symptoms (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale) in 52 older (≥65) communicative adults with AD who reported being free from chronic pain requiring daily analgesics. RESULTS:Pain was reported to interfere with general activity (13.5%), mood (13.5%), walking ability (13.5%), normal work (11.5%), enjoyment of life (11.5%), relationships with other people (9.6%), and sleep (9.6%). Pain interference was significantly positively correlated with both cognitive function (rs = 0.46, p = 0.001) and depressive symptomology (rs = 0.45, p = 0.001), indicating that greater reported pain interference was associated with better cognitive function and more depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Among older people with AD who report being free from chronic pain requiring daily analgesics, 2 in 10 are at risk of pain interference and depressive symptoms. Those with better cognitive function reported more pain interference and depressive symptoms, meaning pain is likely to be under-reported as AD progresses. Clinicians should regularly assess pain interference and depressive symptoms in older persons with AD to identify pain that might be otherwise overlooked..
Entities:
Keywords:
Dementia; community dwelling adults with dementia; end-of-life; pain assessment
Authors: Todd B Monroe; Sumathi K Misra; Ralf C Habermann; Mary S Dietrich; Ronald L Cowan; Sandra F Simmons Journal: Geriatr Gerontol Int Date: 2013-09-11 Impact factor: 2.730
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Authors: Todd B Monroe; Stephen J Gibson; Stephen P Bruehl; John C Gore; Mary S Dietrich; Paul Newhouse; Sebastian Atalla; Ronald L Cowan Journal: BMC Med Date: 2016-05-10 Impact factor: 8.775
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