Associação entre a presença de dor e aspectos sociodemográficos e de saúde em pessoas idosas atendidas na Atenção Primária à Saúde

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between the presence of pain and sociodemographic and health aspects in elderly people treated in Primary Health Care. Method: This is a cross-sectional, analytical study, with a quantitative approach, carried out from 2017 to 2018, with elderly people (≥ 60 years old) treated in Primary Health Care in the cities of Natal and Santa Cruz, in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Interviews were carried out using instruments to detect the presence of pain in participants, relating their results using inferential statistics. The final study sample consisted of 100 elderly people. Results: The results reveal that among those with higher income, 62.7% reported the presence of pain (p=0.035). Furthermore, all individuals surveyed felt pain and had felt pain in the last week (p<0.001). In the group of participants who reported pain, 79.5% were dealing with chronic diseases (p=0.751). Additionally, 85.5% used medications and had pain (p=1.000). Depressive symptoms were present in 51.8% of respondents associated with the presence of pain (p=0.015). Conclusion: There was an association between pain, depressive symptoms and higher income. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive and effective approach to meeting the health demands of the elderly population, with Primary Health Care playing a key role in the early detection of chronic pain and deterioration in physical and mental health.