Analgesic use in older adults with back pain: the BACE study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Older patients with back pain are more likely to visit their general practitioner (GP) and are more likely to be prescribed analgesics.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess analgesic use in older adults with back pain in general practice.

METHODS:

The BACE study in the Netherlands is a prospective cohort study. Patients (aged >55 years) with back complaints were recruited when consulting their GP or shortly thereafter. Measurements took place at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. For medication use, patients were asked if they had used any medication for their back pain in the previous 3 months and, if so, to specify the medication name, dosage used, frequency of usage, and whether the medication was prescribed or purchased over the counter.

RESULTS:

Of the 1,402 patients who were approached to enter the study, 675 were included. Of these patients, 484 (72%) reported medication use at baseline. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (57%) were more often used than paracetamol (49%). Paracetamol was mostly obtained over the counter (69%), and NSAIDs were mostly obtained by prescription (85%). At baseline, patients with severe pain (numerical rating scale score ≥7) used more paracetamol, opioids, and muscle relaxants. Patients with chronic pain (back pain >3 months) used more paracetamol, while patients with a shorter duration of pain used more NSAIDs. During follow-up there was an overall decline in medication use; however, at 3- and 6-month follow-up, 36% and 30% of the patients, respectively, still used analgesics.

CONCLUSIONS:

In these older adults consulting their GP with back pain, 72% used analgesics at baseline. Despite a decrease in medication use during follow-up, at 3 and 6 months a considerable proportion still used analgesics.

• Authors: Wendy T M Enthoven, Jantine Scheele, Sita M A Bierma-Zeinstra, Herman J Bueving, Arthur M Bohnen, Wilco C Peul, Maurits W van Tulder, Marjolein Y Berger, Bart W Koes, Pim A J Luijsterburg
• Journal: Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) (Pain Med) Vol. 15 Issue 10 Pg. 1704-14 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 1526-4637 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25087701 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Nonprescription Drugs

Topics

• Aged
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Back Pain (drug therapy)
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Netherlands
• Nonprescription Drugs (therapeutic use)
• Practice Patterns, Physicians'
• Prospective Studies