Anxiety disorder in elderly persons with chronic pain: frequency and associations

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the frequency of anxiety disorders in older elderly persons with chronic pain and identify associated factors. Method: a descriptive, analytical and cross section study of the "Projeto Longevos" ("Long-Lived Elderly Persons Project") was carried out, featuring elderly persons living in the community who were aged 80 or over. Older elderly persons with chronic pain were selected, and data regarding their sociodemographic characteristics and factors related to pain was gathered, especially with regard to the multidimensional nature of pain, according to the "Geriatric Pain Measure-p" (GPM-p). Self-perception of health was also recorded and functionality assessments were carried out, along with the screenings for depression and anxiety disorders, according to the Geriatric Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Associations were analyzed by Pearson correlation, the ANOVA Test and Tukey multiple comparisons. Results: the sample was composed of 41 elderly persons with a mean age of 85.7 years, most of whom were female, white, widowed and had a low education. A high prevalence of anxiety disorders was observed, being 53.6% and 68.3%, respectively, for trait and state anxiety. A significant, but not high, correlation was found between the anxiety trait and chronic pain according to the GPM-p (r=31.5%; p=0.048), and there was a significant and high correlation between the same type of anxiety and depression (r=61.3%; p

摘要

**研究目的**：评估高龄慢性疼痛（chronic pain）老年人的焦虑障碍（anxiety disorders）发生频率，并明确其相关影响因素。

**研究方法**：本研究为描述性、分析性横断面研究，基于"长寿项目（Projeto Longevos, "Long-Lived Elderly Persons Project"）"开展，研究对象为年龄≥80岁的社区居住老年人。本研究纳入存在慢性疼痛的高龄老年人，收集其社会人口学特征及疼痛相关资料，重点依据老年疼痛评估量表-p（Geriatric Pain Measure-p, GPM-p）采集疼痛多维特性相关数据；同时记录受试者的健康自我感知情况，开展功能评估，并分别采用老年抑郁量表（Geriatric Depression Scale）与状态-特质焦虑问卷（State-Trait Anxiety Inventory）进行抑郁与焦虑障碍筛查。采用皮尔逊相关分析（Pearson correlation）、方差分析（ANOVA）及图基多重比较检验（Tukey multiple comparisons）进行关联分析。

**研究结果**：最终纳入41名老年人，平均年龄为85.7岁，其中绝大多数为女性、白人、丧偶且受教育程度较低。研究观察到较高的焦虑障碍发生率：特质焦虑（trait anxiety）与状态焦虑（state anxiety）的发生率分别为53.6%与68.3%。特质焦虑与依据GPM-p评估的慢性疼痛评分间存在显著但强度中等的相关性（r=31.5%, P=0.048）；特质焦虑与抑郁症状间存在显著且强度较高的相关性（r=61.3%; P=0.0