Abstract
Objective: To characterize chronic pain and its association with hypovitaminosis D and depressive symptoms in the elderly treated at an outpatient clinic. Methods: A questionnaire was applied about the presence or absence of pain complaints, as well as about associated mood symptoms. For both groups, the "Geriatric Depression Scale, the" Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire in 4 Questions "(DN4) was used in patients with pain. Results: Although not showing statistical significance (p> 0.05), it was observed that most patients in this study were elderly women (78.2%), who represented 80% of the group with pain. In this study, nociceptive pain, in relation to neuropathic pain, was found to be predominant (60% vs. 40%, respectively). In addition, low levels of vitamin D were found in half of patients with nociceptive pain. Compared to the control group, there was a predominance of depressive patients in the pain group (28% vs. 40%, respectively) - and in these, neuropathic pain prevailed (58.3%). Conclusion: The clinical-epidemiological characteristics of the patients and the possible association between hypovitaminosis D, chronic pain and depression could, in some way, be established in this study - even though we did not reach a significant p-value (p <0.05) and in the face of a series which proved insufficient for more reliable outcomes.