CÁC YẾU TỐ LIÊN QUAN ĐẾN ĐAU TRÊN BỆNH NHÂN CAO TUỔI SA SÚT TRÍ TUỆ TẠI PHÒNG KHÁM

Abstract

Objective: To identify factors associated with pain in elderly patients with dementia attending outpatient clinics. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 390 patients aged 60 years and older diagnosed with dementia. Participants were recruited from the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City and the Dementia Clinic of Thong Nhat Hospital between August 21, 2023 and May 31, 2024. All participants met the inclusion criteria and were free of exclusion criteria. Clinical assessments were performed, including cognitive evaluation using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), diagnosis of dementia according to DSM-5 criteria, functional assessment using the Lawton IADL scale, and pain assessment using the PAINAD scale. Results: Multivariate Poisson regression analysis identified several factors significantly associated with pain among elderly patients with dementia. Patients aged 70–79 years had a 1.99-fold higher prevalence of pain compared to those aged 60–69 years (p = 0.029; 95% CI: 1.07–3.67). A history of stroke was associated with a 4.07-fold higher prevalence of pain (p < 0.0001; 95% CI: 2.40–6.91), and those with osteoarthritis had a 6.66-fold higher prevalence of pain compared to those without osteoarthritis (p < 0.0001; 95% CI: 2.91–15.25). Conclusion: Aging, stroke, and osteoarthritis are major contributing factors to chronic pain in the elderly, particularly in patients with dementia. Pain in this population not only reduces quality of life but also exacerbates cognitive decline, posing challenges in diagnosis and management. Therefore, a comprehensive pain management strategy is essential, incorporating early detection, multimodal interventions, and caregiver support to optimize care outcomes in this vulnerable group.