ĐẶC ĐIỂM ĐAU Ở NGƯỜI CAO TUỔI MẮC SA SÚT TRÍ TUỆ

Abstract

Background: Pain is a common and significant issue in elderly patients with dementia. However, due to their limited ability to communicate effectively, pain in these patients is often underestimated and inadequately treated. Dementia patients frequently lack the capacity to accurately report or express their pain, leading to delayed treatment. As a result, they suffer from insomnia, reduced appetite, and a lower quality of life. Currently, there are limited studies focusing on this area. Therefore, we conducted this research to evaluate the characteristics of pain in elderly individuals with dementia. Objectives: To investigate the characteristics and prevalence of pain in the elderly with dementia. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 390 elderly patients (aged ≥ 60 years) at the Neurology Clinic, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, and the Dementia Clinic, Thong Nhat Hospital, from August 2023 to May 2024. Demographic information, clinical symptoms, clinical examination findings, and pain characteristics, including severity and location based on the PAINAD scale, were recorded. Results: Among 390 elderly patients in the study (51% female, mean age 75.8 ± 7.98), hypertension was the most common comorbidity (88.2%), followed by osteoarthritis (57.2%) and osteoporosis (49.5%). Dementia patients had high rates of diabetes (49.2%) and chronic kidney disease (48.2%). Other conditions included stroke (31.2%), coronary artery disease (27.9%), sleep disorders (22.8%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (13.8%), and heart failure (5.1%), which was the least frequent. The study recorded 54.1% of patients with pain and 45.9% without pain. Mild pain was the most common (30.5%), followed by moderate (14.9%) and severe pain (8.7%). Joint pain was the most frequent (31%), followed by headaches (12.1%), back pain (8.2%), post-herpetic pain (1.5%), and other causes at 1.3%. Conclusion: The prevalence of pain in elderly dementia patients is 54.1%, with 8.7% experiencing severe pain, 14.9% moderate, and 30.5% mild. Joint pain (shoulder, knee, foot) is most common (31%), followed by headaches (12.1%), back pain (8.2%), post-herpetic pain (1.5%), and other causes (1.3%).