Association between number of pain sites and nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain in community-dwelling elderly.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24259
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Reiwa Heath Sciences University (2022); Kyushu University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Takafumi Saito 令和健康科学大学, リハビリテーション学部, 講師 (10849904)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 疼痛 / 慢性疼痛 / 侵害受容性疼痛 / 神経障害性疼痛 / 痛みの数 / フレイル / うつ症状 / 睡眠障害

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was a cross-sectional study among community-dwelling older adults aged 65-75 years who were not certified as needing long-term care. The results of this study revealed that a higher number of pain sites was associated with more neuropathic-like symptoms, and those with neuropathic-like symptoms were more likely to have frailty. In addition, those with neuropathic-like symptoms were more likely to have depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances were associated with severe chronic pain.

Free Research Field

慢性疼痛疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

慢性疼痛のマネジメントはメカニズムに基づいた疼痛治療が最適であるが、疼痛の背後にあるメカニズムを特定することは、臨床現場では困難であり、不可能なことが多い。したがって、神経障害様症状およびフレイルの予防や管理のために、患者の慢性疼痛の数を評価することが必要かもしれない。また、慢性疼痛の重症化を予防するために、うつ症状や睡眠障害も評価していく必要性が地域在住高齢者において示唆されたことは介護予防対策において重要な知見となり得る。