The therapeutic management of chronic pain in ambulatory care patients aged 65 and over in France: the S.AGES Cohort. Baseline data.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The main objective of the S.AGES (Elderly Subjects) cohort study is to describe the current therapeutic strategy for chronic pain in non-institutionalised elderly patients in France.

METHODS:

In this prospective cohort study, non-institutionalised patients aged 65 years and over with chronic pain were recruited by general practitioners (GP) across France. All medicinal and non- medicinal prescriptions were recorded at inclusion and will be followed up over 3 years via an eCRF. Data recorded at baseline are presented in this paper.

RESULTS:

Two hundred and sixty GPs enrolled 1379 evaluable patients between June 3rd, 2009 and June 3rd, 2011. Pain was mainly of a mechanical nature, due to osteoarthritis or common back pain. 80% of the patients had moderate or severe pain. More than a third of patients were treated with a step 1 analgesic (mainly paracetamol), and approximately 30% received a step 2 analgesic (23% dextropropoxyphene and 40.3% tramadol/paracetamol combination). Only 3% received step 3 analgesics; this rate remained low even in patients with severe pain. The proportion of patients treated with an antiepileptic was higher in case of neuropathic pain. More than 25% of patients did not receive any analgesic medication.

CONCLUSION:

The baseline S.AGES study results exhibit a well-balanced therapeutic management of chronic pain by GPs for ambulatory elderly patients. Clinicaltrials.org NCT01065909.

• Authors: P Bertin, L Becquemont, E Corruble, G Derumeaux, B Falissard, O Hanon, M Pinget, F Forette
• Journal: The journal of nutrition, health & aging (J Nutr Health Aging) Vol. 17 Issue 8 Pg. 681-6 ( 2013) ISSN: 1760-4788 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 24097022 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Acetaminophen
• Tramadol
• Dextropropoxyphene

Topics

• Acetaminophen (therapeutic use)
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Ambulatory Care
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Back Pain (drug therapy)
• Chronic Pain (drug therapy, etiology)
• Dextropropoxyphene (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Osteoarthritis (complications, drug therapy)
• Pain Management
• Prospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Tramadol (therapeutic use)