scholarly journals Chronic Pain in the Elderly: The Case for New Therapeutic Strategies

2015 ◽  
Vol 5;18 (5;9) ◽  
pp. E863-E876
Author(s):  
Giustino Varrassi
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Mast Cells ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Neuronal Cells ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Narrative Review

Background: Elderly patients in general exhibit a higher incidence of chronic and neuropathic pain conditions. This group poses a particular clinical challenge due to age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic issues, comorbid conditions, and polypharmacy, as well as frailty and cognitive decline. Poor control of pain has consistently been identified as an issue for older people. The identification of safe and efficacious treatments for chronic pain remains a critical public health concern, especially considering the progressive increase of the world’s elderly population. Objectives: This narrative review deals with the principal alterations of the somatosensory system together with changes in non-neuronal cells in the course of aging. The possibility to control chronic pain based on an innovative strategy which addresses non-neuronal cell dysregulation control will also be discussed. Study Design: Narrative review. Results: Peripheral nerves display functional, structural, and biochemical changes with aging that mainly involve Aδ fibers. Alteration in the responses to heat pain in the middle insular cortex and primary somatosensory cortex are also observed in the elderly. In general, pain threshold increases with age while the threshold of pain tolerance remains unchanged or decreases. Additionally, other important modifications of the pain perception system in this age group consist in a clear reduction in the descending inhibitory capacity with an associated increase in central sensitization. Furthermore, different changes concern immune system cells, such as mast cells and microglia, that with age show an increase in their sensitivity to noxious stimuli and a decreased capability to be regulated by homeostatic endogenous systems. Since these cells are the primary interlocutors for pain neurons, their alterations lead to changes that promote persistent neuroinflammation, thereby impacting pain neuronal cell functionality. Limitation: This review is not an exhaustive review for the current evidence supporting the role of immune cells in influencing pain somatosensory neuron functions. It is also important to stress the small number of studies designed to determine the efficacy and safety of anti-pain therapies in elderly patients. Conclusion: Non-neuronal cells of immune system origin such as microglia and mast cells, along with astrocytes, are capable of influencing pain somatosensory neuron functions. These nervous system non-neuronal cells may thus be viewed as innovative targets for persistent pain control. Among therapies aiming at preserving the functionality of non-neuronal cells, palmitoylethanolamide, with its high efficacy/risk ratio, may be an excellent co-treatment for the ever-growing elderly population with chronic pain. Key words: Elderly, chronic and neuropathic pain, mast cells, glial cells, neuroinflammation, micronized and ultra-micronized palmitoylethanolamide

scholarly journals Pharmacological treatment of chronic non-malignant pain among elderly persons: an integrative review

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-381
Author(s):  
Salomão Antônio Olivência ◽  
Luiza Gabriela Mendes Barbosa ◽  
Marcela Rodrigues da Cunha ◽  
Ledismar José da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Pain Treatment ◽  
Case Series ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Individualized Approach

Abstract Objective: The objective of the present study was to perform an integrative review of proposed pharmacological treatments for chronic non-malignant pain in elderly patients. Method: An integrative review was carried out. The search of literature included papers about the treatment of chronic pain among the elderly, published from 2007 to 2017 and available in Portuguese or English. Searches were conducted on the LILACS and MEDLINE electronic databases using the key words “chronic pain”, “treatment” and “elderly” combined with the Boolean operator “AND”. To analyse methodological quality, the adapted Critical Appraisal Skill Program (CASP) was used. Results: Of a total of 303 studies found, 32 were included. The articles selected included 20 reviews, five observational studies, five clinical trials, one case series and one retrospective study. A total of 75% of the articles were published in the last five years, of which one was in Portuguese and 31 in English. Conclusion :The results demonstrate a variety of treatments for chronic pain among the elderly population, highlighting the role of opioids which, according to more recent evidence, can be carefully used in treatment. Several drugs, however, have not been specifically tested for the elderly population. A number of factors are relevant in pain management of elderly patients, including comorbidities, polypharmacy and patient functionality. An individualized approach should be applied to elderly patients to improve outcomes and reduce side effects.

scholarly journals Importance and challenges of neuropathic pain

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 456-459
Author(s):  
In Soo Joo
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Social Relationship ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Pathological Condition ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Subjective Symptom ◽  
Background Pain

Background: Pain is a complex and subjective symptom frequently encountered in many clinical fields. Acute pain is usually physiological, but chronic pain is a pathological condition that seriously affects the patientsʼ normal daily activities and quality of life. In addition, chronic pain has profoundly detrimental effects on their family and social relationship as well as a national healthcare system.Current Concepts: Neuropathic pain is accompanied by diverse neurological disorders in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neuropathic pain is also a type of chronic pain and has mechanisms unresolved completely yet. Despite recent advances in basic and clinical researches of neuropathic pain including an individualized therapy, the treatment has not been satisfactory. Another problem is the increasing prevalence of neuropathic pain because of the rapid increase of the elderly population as in the case of Korea.Discussion and Conclusion: The clinician should be aware of a clinical entity of neuropathic pain to make an accurate diagnosis and to treat the patients more effectively.

scholarly journals A Narrative Review on Sarcopenia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Anna Izzo ◽  
Elena Massimino ◽  
Gabriele Riccardi ◽  
Giuseppe Della Pepa
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Macrovascular Complications ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Age Related

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a major health burden for the elderly population, affecting approximately 25% of people over the age of 65 years. This percentage is expected to increase dramatically in the next decades in relation to the increased longevity of the population observed in recent years. Beyond microvascular and macrovascular complications, sarcopenia has been described as a new diabetes complication in the elderly population. Increasing attention has been paid by researchers and clinicians to this age-related condition—characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass together with the loss of muscle power and function—in individuals with T2DM; this is due to the heavy impact that sarcopenia may have on physical and psychosocial health of diabetic patients, thus affecting their quality of life. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an update on: (1) the risk of sarcopenia in individuals with T2DM, and (2) its association with relevant features of patients with T2DM such as age, gender, body mass index, disease duration, glycemic control, presence of microvascular or macrovascular complications, nutritional status, and glucose-lowering drugs. From a clinical point of view, it is necessary to improve the ability of physicians and dietitians to recognize early sarcopenia and its risk factors in patients with T2DM in order to make appropriate therapeutic approaches able to prevent and treat this condition.

scholarly journals Topical Treatments and Their Molecular/Cellular Mechanisms in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain—Narrative Review

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 450
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kocot-Kępska ◽  
Renata Zajączkowska ◽  
Joanna Mika ◽  
David J. Kopsky ◽  
Jerzy Wordliczek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Neuronal Cells ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Peripheral Sensitization ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Topical Treatments

Neuropathic pain in humans results from an injury or disease of the somatosensory nervous system at the peripheral or central level. Despite the considerable progress in pain management methods made to date, peripheral neuropathic pain significantly impacts patients’ quality of life, as pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods often fail or induce side effects. Topical treatments are gaining popularity in the management of peripheral neuropathic pain, due to excellent safety profiles and preferences. Moreover, topical treatments applied locally may target the underlying mechanisms of peripheral sensitization and pain. Recent studies showed that peripheral sensitization results from interactions between neuronal and non-neuronal cells, with numerous signaling molecules and molecular/cellular targets involved. This narrative review discusses the molecular/cellular mechanisms of drugs available in topical formulations utilized in clinical practice and their effectiveness in clinical studies in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain. We searched PubMed for papers published from 1 January 1995 to 30 November 2020. The key search phrases for identifying potentially relevant articles were “topical AND pain”, “topical AND neuropathic”, “topical AND treatment”, “topical AND mechanism”, “peripheral neuropathic”, and “mechanism”. The result of our search was 23 randomized controlled trials (RCT), 9 open-label studies, 16 retrospective studies, 20 case (series) reports, 8 systematic reviews, 66 narrative reviews, and 140 experimental studies. The data from preclinical studies revealed that active compounds of topical treatments exert multiple mechanisms of action, directly or indirectly modulating ion channels, receptors, proteins, and enzymes expressed by neuronal and non-neuronal cells, and thus contributing to antinociception. However, which mechanisms and the extent to which the mechanisms contribute to pain relief observed in humans remain unclear. The evidence from RCTs and reviews supports 5% lidocaine patches, 8% capsaicin patches, and botulinum toxin A injections as effective treatments in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain. In turn, single RCTs support evidence of doxepin, funapide, diclofenac, baclofen, clonidine, loperamide, and cannabidiol in neuropathic pain states. Topical administration of phenytoin, ambroxol, and prazosin is supported by observational clinical studies. For topical amitriptyline, menthol, and gabapentin, evidence comes from case reports and case series. For topical ketamine and baclofen, data supporting their effectiveness are provided by both single RCTs and case series. The discussed data from clinical studies and observations support the usefulness of topical treatments in neuropathic pain management. This review may help clinicians in making decisions regarding whether and which topical treatment may be a beneficial option, particularly in frail patients not tolerating systemic pharmacotherapy.

scholarly journals How to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Elderly Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Piera Federico ◽  
Emilio Francesco Giunta ◽  
Annalisa Pappalardo ◽  
Andrea Tufo ◽  
Gianpaolo Marte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Primary Tumour ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Chronic Liver Diseases ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Choice Of Treatment ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Optimal Treatment Strategy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary tumour of the liver with the greatest incidence, particularly in the elderly. Additionally, improvements in the treatments for chronic liver diseases have increased the number of elderly patients who might be affected by HCC. Little evidence exists regarding HCC in old patients, and the elderly are still underrepresented and undertreated in clinical trials. In fact, this population represents a complex subgroup of patients who are hard to manage, especially due to the presence of multiple comorbidities. Therefore, the choice of treatment is mainly decided by the physician in the clinical practice, who often tend not to treat elderly patients in order to avoid the possibility of adverse events, which may alter their unstable equilibrium. In this context, the clarification of the optimal treatment strategy for elderly patients affected by HCC has become an urgent necessity. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the available data regarding the treatment of HCC in elderly patients, starting from the definition of “elderly” and the geriatric assessment and scales. We explain the possible treatment choices according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) scale and their feasibility in the elderly population.

scholarly journals 744. Effectiveness of 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine and Influenza Vaccine Against Pneumococcal Pneumonia Among Elderly Patients Aged 65 Years and Older in the Republic of Korea: A Case–Control Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S267-S267
Author(s):  
Jong Hun Kim ◽  
Byung Chul Chun ◽  
Joon Young Song ◽  
Hyo Youl Kim ◽  
In-Gyu Bae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Polysaccharide Vaccine ◽  
Vaccine Effectiveness ◽  
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background The national immunization program (NIP) of annual influenza vaccination to the elderly population (≥65 years of age) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been implemented since 1987. Recently, the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) through the NIP has been provided to the elderly population in the ROK since May 2013. The aim of this study was to assess PPV23 and influenza vaccine (IV) effectiveness in preventing pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) among elderly patients ≥65 years of age. Methods A case–control study using a hospital-based cohort was conducted. Cases of PP including bacteremic PP and nonbacteremic PP were collected from 14 hospitals in the pneumococcal diseases surveillance program from March 2013 to October 2015. Controls matched by age and sex in the same hospital were selected. Demographic, clinical information, and vaccination histories were collected. Previous immunization was categorized into “vaccinated” if a patient had received vaccines as follows: PPV23 (4 weeks to 5 years) and IV (2 weeks to 6 months) prior to the diagnosis of PP for case patients and prior to the hospital admission for control patients. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) was calculated, controlling for underlying medical conditions. Vaccine effectiveness was defined as (1 – OR) × 100. Results During the study period, a total of 661 cases (104 bacteremic PP cases and 557 nonbacteremic PP cases) and 661 controls were enrolled for analyses. For overall patients ≥65 years of age, there was no significant vaccine effectiveness against PP. For young elderly patients with 65–74 years, IV alone (1.2%, [95% confidence interval (CI) −95.3% to 50.0%]) and PPV23 alone (21.9%, [95% CI −39.0% to 56.1%]) were not effective. However, significant vaccine effectiveness of PPV23 plus IV against PP was noted (54.4%, [95% CI 6.9–77.7%], P = 0.031). For older elderly patients ≥75 years of age, no significant vaccine effectiveness was observed. Conclusion Our study indicates that PPV23 plus IV may be effective in preventing PP among young elderly patients with 65–74 years, suggesting additive benefits of influenza plus PPV23 vaccination. Further studies are required to confirm the persistent additive protective effectiveness. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Role of the immune system in neuropathic pain

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzia Malcangio
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Injury

AbstractBackgroundAcute pain is a warning mechanism that exists to prevent tissue damage, however pain can outlast its protective purpose and persist beyond injury, becoming chronic. Chronic Pain is maladaptive and needs addressing as available medicines are only partially effective and cause severe side effects. There are profound differences between acute and chronic pain. Dramatic changes occur in both peripheral and central pathways resulting in the pain system being sensitised, thereby leading to exaggerated responses to noxious stimuli (hyperalgesia) and responses to non-noxious stimuli (allodynia).Critical role for immune system cells in chronic painPreclinical models of neuropathic pain provide evidence for a critical mechanistic role for immune cells in the chronicity of pain. Importantly, human imaging studies are consistent with preclinical findings, with glial activation evident in the brain of patients experiencing chronic pain. Indeed, immune cells are no longer considered to be passive bystanders in the nervous system; a consensus is emerging that, through their communication with neurons, they can both propagate and maintain disease states, including neuropathic pain. The focus of this review is on the plastic changes that occur under neuropathic pain conditions at the site of nerve injury, the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. At these sites both endothelial damage and increased neuronal activity result in recruitment of monocytes/macrophages (peripherally) and activation of microglia (centrally), which release mediators that lead to sensitisation of neurons thereby enabling positive feedback that sustains chronic pain.Immune system reactions to peripheral nerve injuriesAt the site of peripheral nerve injury following chemotherapy treatment for cancer for example, the occurrence of endothelial activation results in recruitment of CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1)-expressing monocytes/macrophages, which sensitise nociceptive neurons through the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that activate transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels to evoke a pain response. In the DRG, neuro-immune cross talk following peripheral nerve injury is accomplished through the release of extracellular vesicles by neurons, which are engulfed by nearby macrophages. These vesicles deliver several determinants including microRNAs (miRs), with the potential to afford long-term alterations in macrophages that impact pain mechanisms. On one hand the delivery of neuron-derived miR-21 to macrophages for example, polarises these cells towards a pro-inflammatory/pro-nociceptive phenotype; on the other hand, silencing miR-21 expression in sensory neurons prevents both development of neuropathic allodynia and recruitment of macrophages in the DRG.Immune system mechanisms in the central nervous systemIn the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, growing evidence over the last two decades has delineated signalling pathways that mediate neuron-microglia communication such as P2X4/BDNF/GABAA, P2X7/Cathepsin S/Fractalkine/CX3CR1, and CSF-1/CSF-1R/DAP12 pathway-dependent mechanisms.Conclusions and implicationsDefinition of the modalities by which neuron and immune cells communicate at different locations of the pain pathway under neuropathic pain states constitutes innovative biology that takes the pain field in a different direction and provides opportunities for novel approaches for the treatment of chronic pain.

Effects of exercise on the immune system in the elderly population

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helle Bruunsgaard ◽  
Bente Klarlund Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly

Immune system changes and immunosenescence

2017 ◽  
pp. 331-336
Author(s):  
Graham Pawelec ◽  
Ludmila Müller ◽  
Tamas Fülöp ◽  
Deborah Dunn-Walters
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Older People ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Degenerative Diseases ◽  
System Changes ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

The immune system defends against infection, but older people paradoxically suffer not only from failing immunity resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and decreased responsiveness to vaccination, but at the same time increased inflammation and immunopathology accompanying immune responses. Interventions to reduce such deleterious effects while enhancing protective immunity are challenging but need to be confronted if we are to deal successfully with the increasing numbers of elderly and frail people in modern societies. To do this, we need to understand the mechanisms responsible for age-associated increased susceptibility to infections and immune-influenced chronic degenerative diseases of ageing. Defining relevant age-associated alterations and identifying reliable biomarkers for monitoring clinically-relevant immune status in the elderly population is crucial to overcoming these problems. Here, we briefly outline age-associated changes to immunity collectively termed ‘immunosenescence’.

scholarly journals Displaced olecranon fractures in the elderly: outcomes after non-operative treatment – a narrative review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 391-397
Author(s):  
Olga D. Savvidou ◽  
Panagiotis Koutsouradis ◽  
Angelos Kaspiris ◽  
Leon Naar ◽  
George D. Chloros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postoperative Complications ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Operative Treatment ◽  
Treatment Option ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Small Series ◽  
Olecranon Fractures

Operative treatment with tension band wiring or plate is the gold standard of care for displaced olecranon fractures. In elderly patients, multiple comorbidities combine with increased intraoperative risks, and postoperative complications may yield poor results. There are small series in the literature that show promising results with non-operative treatment. Non-operative treatment may provide reasonable function and satisfaction in the elderly population and could be considered as a treatment option in this group, especially for those with comorbidities, to avoid postoperative complications and the need for re-operation. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:391-397. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190041

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