engleski

Gastrointestinal cancers-assessment of pain in elderly patients

Introduction : Patients (pts) with gastrointestinal cancers suffer from many symptoms during their disease , range symptoms 1-25.Pain is the most prevalent symptom and occurs in 70-90% of pts with advanced disease. The aim of this study is to compare the pain prevalence in elderly pts versus younger cancer pts.We took age 70 years as border for elderly. Results : During four years period on our department 676 pts with cancer of the gastrointestinal site was cured.The most common tumor sites were pancreas, colon and stomach.In group of elderly there was 172 men and 120 women with mean age of 77, 4+3, 2 years.In the comparative group there was 242 men and 142 women with mean age of 63, 2+4, 1 years.We especially examined pain which we thought is related to cancer.230 (78, 77%) of elderly pts experienced pain compared with 253 (65, 88%) of pts in comparative group.In elderly group 88 (30, 14%) of pts expressed mild pain, 128(43, 84%) moderate and 76 (26, 02%) severe pain versus 98 (25, 52%) mild pain, 174 (45, 31%) moderate pain and 112 (29, 17%) severe pain in comparative group, respectivelly.To all pts with pain we prescribed analgetic therapy according to "three ladder step" - WHO.165 (56, 51%) of elderly and 291 (75, 78%) of others respected pain therapy.Pain therapy "respectors" lived longer than "nonrespectors" (11 to 6, 4 months respectivelly).Pts prefered phentanyl patch (Durogesic TSS) for pain therapy, especially elderly (257-88% versus 292-76% respecivelly). Conclusions : There is no difference in pain expression according to age, gender and tumor site.There is no difference between severity of pain among this two groups.There is statistically significant difference in respecting pain therapy ; younger pts respect pain therapy statistically significant more than elderly.pts who respect pain therapy live statistically longer (almost twice) than "nonrespectors".Pts prefered transdermal opioid therapy, especially in elderly group.

gastrointestinal cancers; pain; elderly patients

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