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. 2004 Sep;33(5):496-9.
doi: 10.1093/ageing/afh165. Epub 2004 Jul 22.

Effects of dementia on perceived daily pain in home-dwelling elderly people: a population-based study

Pekka Mäntyselkä  1 , Sirpa Hartikainen, Kirsti Louhivuori-Laako, Raimo Sulkava
Affiliations

Effects of dementia on perceived daily pain in home-dwelling elderly people: a population-based study

Pekka Mäntyselkä et al. Age Ageing. 2004 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Pain is a significant problem in the elderly, but the impact of dementia on perceived pain has not been studied in population-based study settings.

Objectives: To analyse the prevalence of daily pain and analgesic use among home-dwelling older people with and without dementia.

Design: A cross-sectional population-based survey.

Setting: Population of Kuopio city, Finland.

Subjects: 523 home-dwelling subjects aged 75 years and older.

Methods: Structured clinical examination and interview.

Results: Prevalence rates for any pain, any daily pain, pain every day interfering with routine activities, and daily pain at rest were significantly lower in those subjects with dementia (43%, 23%, 19% and 4%, respectively) compared to those subjects without dementia (69%, 40%, 36% and 13%, respectively). The subjects with dementia were less likely to use analgesics (33%) than the non-demented (47%).

Conclusion: Dementia was related to a lower prevalence of reported pain and analgesic use among home-dwelling elderly people.

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