Narcolepsy
Chronic Pain
www.encognitive.com Chronic pain affects more than one-quarter of seniors living in households and close to 4 out of every 10 in institutions, and it can have a profound impact on their quality of life, according to a new study. The study, based on data from two separate health surveys, examined the prevalence of chronic pain among seniors aged 65 and over living in private households and in long-term health care institutions. Many seniors, particularly those who were institutionalized, experienced pain on a regular basis, and were therefore limited in their mobility and dexterity. According to data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, chronic pain affected 27% of seniors living in households, compared with just 16% of the household population aged 18 to 64. However, the prevalence of chronic pain was highest in health care institutions, where 38% of seniors were affected by it, according to the Health Institutions component of the 1996 National Population Health Survey (NPHS). Chronic pain can make life miserable for seniors. Based on longitudinal data from the NPHS, an increase in pain over a two-year period was associated with higher odds of being unhappy, or having a negative, self-perceived impression of personal health at the end of the period. The study noted that the issue of chronic pain will become even more relevant as the population ages. By 2031, seniors are expected to account for between 23% and 25% of the total population, nearly double their …
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