Characterization of Chronic Pain in Elderly Population with Emphasis on Differences Between Gender

Introduction: It is estimated that by 2025 there will be approximately 1.2 billion people above 60 years old. Global projections indicate that by 2050 there will be about 2 billion elders, 80% of them living in developing countries. Researches on the relationship between pain and aging are currently much valued within the health sciences, the ultimate goal being the provision of adequate pain control for the growing number of elders in society. Objectives: To characterize chronic pain in the elderly population and evaluate pain threshold to mechanical stimulation, with emphasis on gender differences. Methods: This study refers to a cross-sectional study to be conducted in convenience samples of a primary care unit (Geraldo Horacio de Paula Souza) that follows elders and the Department of Geriatrics of the university hospital of the School of Medicine of Universidade de São Paulo (Hospital das Clínicas). At least 200 participants of each gender, aged 65 or above, will be selected to participate. Chronic pain will be that lasting for six or more months (either continuous or recurrent, as recommended by the International Association For the Study of Pain). Participants will be searched about their demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and asked to answer the following questionnaires: the Mini Mental State Examination, a structured questionnaire for activities of daily living, a structured questionnaire for instrumental activities of daily living, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale, the five dimensions European Quality of Life assessment (EQ5D) and Brief Pain Inventory. Participants will also be evaluated regarding pain threshold to mechanical stimuli using algometer. Descriptive statistics of the sample will be displayed as means, medians, standard deviations and proportions. For testing for differences between males and females, a significance level of 5% will be used. Keywords: elderly, chronic pain, gender.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Pain; Elderly; Gender
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Observation

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 474

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • SP
    • São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 01239-011
      • Universidade de Sao Paulo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patient of the geriatrics clinic at the Central Institute (IC) of the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP) or the Geraldo Horácio de Paula Souza School of Public Health Center of the University of São Paulo

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient of the geriatrics clinic at the Central Institute (IC) of the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP) or the Geraldo Horácio de Paula Souza School of Public Health Center of the University of São Paulo
• Be over 65 years old
• Accept study participation
• Have read, understood, agreed and signed the TCLE

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive difficulty in understanding and responding to research questions
• Do not accept participation in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Male; Male, patients	Other: Observation; questionnaire
Female; Female patients	Other: Observation; questionnaire

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sensitivity to pressure pain 5 minutes post recruitment	Pain evaluation throught algometer 5 minutes post recruitment	applied minutes 5 after recruitment of the subject.
Sensitivity to pressure pain 10 minutes post recruitment	Pain evaluation throught algometer 10 minutes post recruitment	applied minutes 10 after recruitment of the subject.
Sensitivity to pressure pain 15 minutes post recruitment	Pain evaluation throught algometer 15 minutes post recruitment	applied minutes 15 after recruitment of the subject.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mini Mental State Examination	Mental state evaluation	applied in beginning of the interview

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Chesterton LS, Barlas P, Foster NE, Baxter DG, Wright CC. Gender differences in pressure pain threshold in healthy humans. Pain. 2003 Feb;101(3):259-266. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00330-5.
• Bartley EJ, Fillingim RB. Sex differences in pain: a brief review of clinical and experimental findings. Br J Anaesth. 2013 Jul;111(1):52-8. doi: 10.1093/bja/aet127.
• Valkenburg HA. Epidemiologic considerations of the geriatric population. Gerontology. 1988;34 Suppl 1:2-10. doi: 10.1159/000212980.
• Riley JL 3rd, Robinson ME, Wise EA, Myers CD, Fillingim RB. Sex differences in the perception of noxious experimental stimuli: a meta-analysis. Pain. 1998 Feb;74(2-3):181-7. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3959(97)00199-1.
• Peat G, Thomas E, Handy J, Croft P. Social networks and pain interference with daily activities in middle and old age. Pain. 2004 Dec;112(3):397-405. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2004.09.029.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 5, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 10, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 10, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 10, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Chronic Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 43535915.0.0000.0068

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No