Georg Pinter1, Waltraud Stromer2, Josef Donnerer3, Svetlana Geyrhofer4, Burkhard Leeb5, Nenad Mitrovic6, Katharina Pils7, Ruldolf Likar8,9,10. 1. Abteilung für Akutgeriatrie/Remobilisation, Klinikum Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Feschnigstraße 11, 9020, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Österreich. georg.pinter@kabeg.at. 2. Landesklinikum Horn, Moorheilbad Harbach, Österreich. 3. Medizinische Fakultät, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Linz, Österreich. 4. Geyrhofer KG, Grein, Österreich. 5. Landesklinikum Stockerau, Stockerau, Österreich. 6. Salzkammergut-Klinikum Vöcklabruck, Vöcklabruck, Österreich. 7. Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung Wien, Wien, Österreich. 8. Klinikum Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Österreich. 9. LKH Wolfsberg, Wolfsberg, Österreich. 10. Sigmund Freud Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pain is highly prevalent in older persons and has a variety of causes. In geriatric patients, especially in patients with dementia, pain is often not sufficiently recognized and therefore frequently remains untreated. For the affected patient group this can have far-reaching consequences for their functional and cognitive abilities and may consequently lead to loss of autonomy. OBJECTIVE: Existing deficits of pain assessment for geriatric patients are described, with a primary focus on those patients suffering from cognitive impairments and pain. In addition, the influence of multimorbidity on pain management in old age is considered in detail. METHODS: The diagnostics and measurement of pain in older individuals are described based on recent literature and corresponding instruments used in the assessment of pain are outloned. The authors pay special attention to the possibilities of pain measurement in patients with higher grade cognitive impairments and non-communicative patients. CONCLUSION: A standardized pain assessment should be an integral component in the care and treatment of geriatric patients and individuals suffering from dementia. Validated instruments for pain measurement exist for both groups and should be integrated into daily clinical practice.
INTRODUCTION: Pain is highly prevalent in older persons and has a variety of causes. In geriatric patients, especially in patients with dementia, pain is often not sufficiently recognized and therefore frequently remains untreated. For the affected patient group this can have far-reaching consequences for their functional and cognitive abilities and may consequently lead to loss of autonomy. OBJECTIVE: Existing deficits of pain assessment for geriatric patients are described, with a primary focus on those patients suffering from cognitive impairments and pain. In addition, the influence of multimorbidity on pain management in old age is considered in detail. METHODS: The diagnostics and measurement of pain in older individuals are described based on recent literature and corresponding instruments used in the assessment of pain are outloned. The authors pay special attention to the possibilities of pain measurement in patients with higher grade cognitive impairments and non-communicative patients. CONCLUSION: A standardized pain assessment should be an integral component in the care and treatment of geriatric patients and individuals suffering from dementia. Validated instruments for pain measurement exist for both groups and should be integrated into daily clinical practice.
Authors: Walter Schippinger; Anna Glechner; Karl Horvath; Ulrike Sommeregger; Thomas Frühwald; Peter Dovjak; Georg Pinter; Bernhard Iglseder; Peter Mrak; Walter Müller; Gerald Ohrenberger; Eva Mann; Birgit Böhmdorfer; Regina Roller-Wirnsberger Journal: Eur Geriatr Med Date: 2018-09-27 Impact factor: 1.710