Lena Sandin-Wranker
Lund University, Sweden
Title: Gender perspectives among older people living with pain
Biography
Biography: Lena Sandin-Wranker
Abstract
Background and Aims: Pain is a multidimensional, unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Its relationship with ageing is unclear. The aim was to investigate pain from a gender perspective, the influence of biological, social, psychological and existential factors on the relationship between pain and quality of life, associations between pain and personality traits, and
changes in pain over time.
Methods: The studies employed data from the longitudinal Swedish National Study on Aging and Care – Blekinge (SNAC-B). A total of 1,402 randomly selected individuals were included.
Results: Almost 55% of the participants reported pain, predominantly women, p<0.01. The intensity was rated as moderate or severe (VAS >4) and women scored higher than men, p<0.023. Pain intensity declined with age among men, p<0.013. The strongest OR for low QoL among elderly women was found for pain (OR 2.27, CI 1.36-3.78), which is in contrast to elderly men who suffered from insomnia (OR 1.86, CI 1.04-3.33). Personality traits and pain were related among the older adults but gender differences were observed. The prevalence of pain declines with increasing age, but is still higher among women. The
pain relief rate is higher for older men compared to older women. Low external locus of control scores may contribute to pain relief among men (Study IV).
Conclusions: Pain is common, especially among women, but declines with increasing age and the intensity also decreases. There are gender differences in how pain influences quality of life. Low external locus of control scores may contribute to pain relief among men.