TY - JOUR
T1 - Analgesic Use in Older Adults with Back Pain: The BACE Study
AU - Enthoven, W.T.M.
AU - Scheele, J.
AU - Bierma-Zeinstra, S.M.A.
AU - Bueving, H.J.
AU - Bohnen, A.M.
AU - Peul, W.C.
AU - van Tulder, M.W.
AU - Berger, M.Y.
AU - Koes, B.W.
AU - Luijsterburg, P.A.J.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Background: Older patients with back pain are more likely to visit their general practitioner (GP) and are more likely to be prescribed analgesics. Objective: To assess analgesic use in older adults with back pain in general practice. Methods: The BACE study in the Netherlands is a prospective cohort study. Patients (aged>55 years) with back complaints were recruited when consulting their GP or shortly thereafter. Measurements took place at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. For medication use, patients were asked if they had used any medication for their back pain in the previous 3 months and, if so, to specify the medication name, dosage used, frequency of usage, and whether the medication was prescribed or purchased over the counter. Results: Of the 1,402 patients who were approached to enter the study, 675 were included. Of these patients, 484 (72%) reported medication use at baseline. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (57%) were more often used than paracetamol (49%). Paracetamol was mostly obtained over the counter (69%), and NSAIDs were mostly obtained by prescription (85%). At baseline, patients with severe pain (numerical rating scale score≥7) used more paracetamol, opioids, and muscle relaxants. Patients with chronic pain (back pain>3 months) used more paracetamol, while patients with a shorter duration of pain used more NSAIDs. During follow-up there was an overall decline in medication use; however, at 3- and 6-month follow-up, 36% and 30% of the patients, respectively, still used analgesics. Conclusions: In these older adults consulting their GP with back pain, 72% used analgesics at baseline. Despite a decrease in medication use during follow-up, at 3 and 6 months a considerable proportion still used analgesics.
AB - Background: Older patients with back pain are more likely to visit their general practitioner (GP) and are more likely to be prescribed analgesics. Objective: To assess analgesic use in older adults with back pain in general practice. Methods: The BACE study in the Netherlands is a prospective cohort study. Patients (aged>55 years) with back complaints were recruited when consulting their GP or shortly thereafter. Measurements took place at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. For medication use, patients were asked if they had used any medication for their back pain in the previous 3 months and, if so, to specify the medication name, dosage used, frequency of usage, and whether the medication was prescribed or purchased over the counter. Results: Of the 1,402 patients who were approached to enter the study, 675 were included. Of these patients, 484 (72%) reported medication use at baseline. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (57%) were more often used than paracetamol (49%). Paracetamol was mostly obtained over the counter (69%), and NSAIDs were mostly obtained by prescription (85%). At baseline, patients with severe pain (numerical rating scale score≥7) used more paracetamol, opioids, and muscle relaxants. Patients with chronic pain (back pain>3 months) used more paracetamol, while patients with a shorter duration of pain used more NSAIDs. During follow-up there was an overall decline in medication use; however, at 3- and 6-month follow-up, 36% and 30% of the patients, respectively, still used analgesics. Conclusions: In these older adults consulting their GP with back pain, 72% used analgesics at baseline. Despite a decrease in medication use during follow-up, at 3 and 6 months a considerable proportion still used analgesics.
U2 - 10.1111/pme.12515
DO - 10.1111/pme.12515
M3 - Article
SN - 1526-2375
VL - 15
SP - 1704
EP - 1714
JO - Pain medicine
JF - Pain medicine
IS - 10
ER -