Analgesic prescribing in care home residents: how epidemiological studies may inform clinical practice

Abstract

Care home residents are often frail with multiple comorbidities and cognitive impairment, most commonly caused by dementia. This population is under-represented in clinical trials, leading to a lack of valid and reliable evidence to inform clinicians’ prescribing practice. This paper summarizes how epidemiological research conducted in similar populations can inform pain management by describing pain prevalence, risk factors, typical features and functional consequences. This evidence can help overcome the numerous barriers to optimal pain management in care home residents.