Comparison of Pain Management of Geriatric and Non-geriatric Patients who applied to the Emergency Department with Acute Pain

Abstract

Objective: Pain is the most common reason for the emergency department (ED) visits of geriatric patients. Pain management might be challenging in this age group of patients which may spur delays in pain treatment and oligoanalgesia. In addition, failure to provide effective pain control in geriatric patients can lead to delirium, depression, and prolonged hospital stay. The aim of the study was to compare the changes in pain scores of geriatric and non-geriatric patients in the first 60 min who applied to the ED with acute pain. Methods: This prospective study was conducted between January 2022 and March 2022 in an academic ED. All patients older than 18 years old who presented with acute pain were enrolled in the study. The primary outcome measure of the study was determined as the alteration in pain levels between geriatric and non-geriatric groups at the visual analog scale (VAS) at 0–60th min. The secondary outcome measures of the study were to determine the opioid doses between the two groups and the alteration in pain levels between the two groups at the VAS at 0–20th min and 0–40th min. Results: The change in pain levels did not differ significantly between the groups at 0–60th, 0–20th, and 0–40th min. Opioid doses were also not significantly different among the two groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that oligoanagesia is not a significant risk neither for geriatric nor for non-geriatric patients in the ED population. ABSTRACT