Pain thresholds in elderly individuals: a cross-sectional observational study of the influence of gender and chronic non-cancer pain

Background

The older population is growing, and it is estimated that, by 2050, people aged 60-years or more will have reached two billion. The increased life expectancy has led to a higher incidence of chronic degenerative diseases, contributing to increased pain complaints. This study aims to compare the pain threshold after mechanical stimulation in older adults according to gender and presence or absence of chronic pain and find the prevalence and intensity of chronic pain in this population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional observational study with a convenience sample in the outpatient clinic at two research centers. All participants answered sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires, and the Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) was assessed with an algometer. Patients reporting chronic pain answered the Geriatric Pain Measure (GPM) questionnaire.

Results

The sample consisted of 230 individuals, aged 60 to 96 years, 67.8% women and 32.2% men. Chronic pain prevalence was 47.8%, 29.7% in men and 56.4% in women. PPT was significantly lower in women (4.49 ± 1.78 kg) than in men (6.41 ± 1.92 kg). PPT in older individuals presenting chronic pain (4.58 ± 1.93 kg) was lower than in older individuals without chronic pain (5.58 ± 2.01 kg). There was no significant difference between genders in pain assessment by GPM.

Conclusions

Pressure pain threshold was lower in older women and in patients with chronic pain, the association between gender and lower pain threshold was stronger than observed with chronic pain.