Pain Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA.
Pain Med. 2012 Apr;13 Suppl 2:S57-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01307.x.
Chronic or persistent pain is a common problem in older adults and is often associated with significant physical disability and psychosocial problems. The potential benefits, risks, and costs of pharmacotherapy as a mainstay in the treatment of moderate to severe pain in this population must be well-understood and weighed accordingly. Recent treatment guidelines have been introduced that can guide decision making to optimize pain-related treatment outcomes in older individuals
This review article describes and summarizes key evidence-based recommendations that were derived by a committee convened by the American Geriatrics Society in order to provide guidance to optimize pharmacotherapy in the management of persistent pain in older individuals.
It is postulated that ongoing education of clinicians who treat older patients with persistent moderate to severe pain will lead to improved outcomes in this vulnerable population.
慢性或持续性疼痛是老年人常见的问题，常与严重的身体残疾和心理社会问题相关。在治疗该人群中中度至重度疼痛时，药物治疗作为主要方法的潜在益处、风险和成本必须得到充分理解，并相应权衡。最近引入了治疗指南，可以指导决策，以优化老年人的疼痛相关治疗结果。
本文描述并总结了美国老年医学学会召集的一个委员会得出的循证推荐，旨在为优化老年人持续性疼痛的药物治疗提供指导。
据推测，对治疗持续性中重度疼痛的老年患者的临床医生进行持续教育，将改善这一脆弱人群的结局。
