Long-term effects of analgesics in a population of elderly nursing home residents with persistent nonmalignant pain.

Background: Little is known about the long-term effects of analgesics on functional status and well-being of nursing home residents with chronic pain.

Methods: Using the Minimum Data Set, we performed a longitudinal study of nursing home residents (n = 10,372) with persistent pain. Using propensity score adjustment techniques, we compared the effect of different analgesics on changes in physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, and examined rates of adverse events over a 6-month period.

Persistent nonmalignant pain and analgesic prescribing patterns in elderly nursing home residents.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of analgesics used, their prescribing patterns, and associations with particular diagnoses and medications in patients with persistent pain.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Nursing homes from 10 U.