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Comparative differences in musculoskeletal pain consultation and analgesic prescription for people with dementia: a UK-wide matched cohort study

Bullock, Laurna; Bedson, John; Chen, Ying; Chew-Graham, Carolyn A.; Campbell, Paul

Comparative differences in musculoskeletal pain consultation and analgesic prescription for people with dementia: a UK-wide matched cohort study Thumbnail


Authors

John Bedson

Ying Chen



Abstract

Painful musculoskeletal conditions are common in older adults; however, pain identification, assessment, and management are reported to be suboptimal for people with dementia. Adequate pain management is an integral aspect of care for people with dementia to prevent or delay negative outcomes, such as behavioural and psychological changes, emergency department attendance, and premature nursing home admission. This study aims to examine musculoskeletal consultations and analgesic prescriptions for people with dementia compared with those for people without dementia. A dementia cohort (n = 36,582) and matched cohort were identified in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (a UK-wide primary care database). Period prevalence for musculoskeletal consultations and analgesic prescriptions was described, and logistic regression applied to estimate associations between dementia and musculoskeletal consultation or analgesic prescription from the time of dementia diagnosis to 5 years after diagnosis. People with dementia had a consistently (over time) lower prevalence and odds of musculoskeletal consultation and analgesic prescription compared with people without dementia. The evidence suggests that pain management may be suboptimal for people with dementia. These results highlight the need to increase awareness of pain and use better methods of pain assessment, evaluation of treatment response, and acceptable and effective management for people with dementia, in primary care.

Citation

Bullock, L., Bedson, J., Chen, Y., Chew-Graham, C. A., & Campbell, P. (2021). Comparative differences in musculoskeletal pain consultation and analgesic prescription for people with dementia: a UK-wide matched cohort study. PAIN, 162(10), 2613-2620. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002257

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 9, 2021
Online Publication Date Mar 9, 2021
Publication Date 2021-03
Publicly Available Date May 30, 2023
Journal Pain
Print ISSN 0304-3959
Publisher Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 162
Issue 10
Pages 2613-2620
DOI https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002257
Keywords Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Neurology (clinical), Neurology
Publisher URL https://journals.lww.com/pain/Abstract/9000/Comparative_differences_in_musculoskeletal_pain.98101.aspx
PMID 33902094

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