Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study

Authors

  • Lilian Varanda Pereira Universidade Federal de Goiás; Faculdade de Enfermagem
  • Patrícia Pereira de Vasconcelos
  • Layz Alves Ferreira Souza Universidade Federal de Goiás; Hospital das Clínicas
  • Gilberto de Araújo Pereira Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro; Departamento de Enfermagem em Educação e Saúde Comunitária
  • Adélia Yaeko Kyosen Nakatani Universidade Federal de Goiás; Faculdade de Enfermagem
  • Maria Márcia Bachion Universidade Federal de Goiás; Faculdade de Enfermagem

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-1169.3591.2465

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to identify the prevalence and intensity of chronic pain among elderly people of the community and to analyze associations with the self-perceived health status. METHOD: cross-sectional study with a populational sample (n=934), conducted through household interviews in the city of Goiânia, Brazil. The intensity of chronic pain (existing for 6 months or more) was measured using a numerical scale (0-10) and the self-perceived health through a verbal scale (very good, good, fair, poor, very poor). For the statistical analysis, the absolute frequency and percentage, CI (95%), Chi-square test, Odds ratio, and regression analysis were used. Significance of 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic pain was 52.8% [CI (95%):49.4-56.1]; most frequently located in the lower limbs (34.5%) and lumbar region (29.5%); with high or the worst possible intensity for 54.6% of the elderly people. The occurrence of chronic pain was associated with (p<0.0001) a worse self-perception of health (OR=4.2:2.5-7.0), a greater number of chronic diseases (OR=1.8:1.2-2.7), joint disease (OR=3.5:2.4-5.1) and the female gender (OR=2.3:1.7-3.0). A lower intensity of chronic pain was associated with a better self-perception of health (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: the majority of the elderly people of the community reported chronic pain, of a severe intensity, and located in areas related to movement activities, thus influencing the morbidity and mortality of this population.

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Published

2014-07-01

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 4 (2014)

Section

Original Articles

License

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Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study . (2014). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 22(4), 662-669. https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-1169.3591.2465