SABE study: Factors associated with the use of drugs to control chronic pain in the elderly

AIMS: This study aims to analyze the factors associated with the use of medications to control chronic pain in the elderly, study carried out in the city of São Paulo.METHODS: This a cross-sectional study using data from the Health, Welfare and Ageing Study (SABE), which began in 2000 with reinterviews in 2006 and 2010. For this research, data from elderly people re-interviewed in 2010 were initially used. From this sample, elderly individuals showed chronic pain were selected for the analysis of factors associated with the use of medications for pain control. The Rao Scott test was used to identify these factors. Since this is a study with a complex sample design, estimated sample weights for the 2010 follow-up were considered for all analyses.RESULTS: From the initial sample of 978 elderly people, 303 (30.98%) reportedchronic pain. Among these elderly people, there was a lower frequency of using analgesics for those who reported having made the last medical consultation in a health care/private (OR = 0,55; IC 95%: 0,31-0,96); lower frequency of using antidepressants for those who reported not having health insurance (OR = 0,49; IC 95%: 0,24-0,98); greater use of symptomatic for dyspepsia; for those with regular health self-perception (OR = 2,20; IC 95%: 1,12-4,32); and for those who reported feeling pain daily (OR = 2,24; IC 95%: 1,31-3,81).CONCLUSIONS: Thus, it is concluded that pain is a factor that directly affects the life of the elderly and they often seek relief for their suffering in medications, and the fact of performing medical consultations in a private care or health service increases the frequency of use of certain medications. OBJETIVO: Analisar os fatores associados ao uso de medicamentos para controle da dor crônica por idosos do município de São Paulo.MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com utilização de dados do Estudo Saúde, Bem Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE) que teve início no ano 2000, com reentrevistas em 2006 e 2010. Para esta pesquisa, inicialmente, foram utilizados dados dos idosos que foram reentrevistados em 2010. Dessa amostra, os idosos que apresentaram dor crônica foram selecionados para a análise de fatores associados ao uso de medicamentos para controle da dor. Para a identificação desses fatores utilizou-se o teste de Rao Scott. Por se tratar de estudo com desenho amostral complexo, para todas as análises considerou-se pesos amostrais estimados para o seguimento de 2010.RESULTADOS: Da amostra inicial de 978 idosos, 303 (30,98%) re