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Chronic pain is one of the most common conditions encountered by healthcare professionals, particularly among older (65 years) patients. 1 2]3 Its negative effects extend beyond the patient, to disrupt both family and social relationships. Chronic pain poses a significant economic burden on society. 1 Prevalence rates for pain are expected to increase as populations continue to age-by 2035 an estimated one quarter of the population in the European Union will be 65 or older-thereby increasing the public health impact of pain. Healthcare providers, irrespective of specialty, should develop competencies to assess and manage chronic pain in their older patients. In this review we summarize recent evidence on the assessment and management of pain in older patients. Evidence is taken from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, individual trials, and clinical guidelines.
Reid et al. (Fri,) studied this question.