Pain in Community-Dwelling Elderly African Americans

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the type, severity, and correlates of pain among underserved elderly African Americans. METHOD: This cross-sectional study includes 400 non-institutionalized underserved aged African Americans, recruited from 16 African American churches located in South Los Angeles. RESULTS: Two thirds of our participants reported a level of pain of 5 or higher (on a scale of 0-10) for at least one of the pain items. Participants with severe level of pain showed a higher level of insomnia, depression, and deficiency in activity of daily living as well as a lower level of memory function and quality of physical and mental health. Also, level of pain is a statistically significant correlate of office-based physician visits and emergency department admission. CONCLUSION: Our findings encourage multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary interventions to include pharmacotherapy, psychological support, and physical rehabilitation, specifically on neuropathic pain among aged African Americans with multiple chronic conditions.