Evolution of analgesic prescriptions in ambulatory care patients aged 75 and over, three months after a hospitalization in geriatric medicine.

The main objective is to analyze the evolution of analgesic treatment three to five months after a hospitalization in geriatric medicine for patients aged 75 and over, considering the influences of various factors and reasons of modifications. In this single institution and cohort study, patients were included from geriatric medicine at the University Hospital of Caen. Analgesic treatments were collected during hospitalization. Three months post-hospitalization, general practitioners were contacted regarding the evolution of the analgesic treatment. Patients included were hospitalized between June and September 2015. Three months after hospitalization, 75 patients had useful data. There were changes of treatment for 58.7 % of patients (n=44), most of whom had a reduction of treatment (n=23). The main cause for change was the occurrence of an intercurrent event, 34.1 % (n=15), in particular a new hospitalization (n=11), and pain improvement : 31.9 % (n=14). The presence of tramadol on discharge prescriptions was an influent factor of the treatment change three months post-hospitalization. After a hospitalization, general practitioners have an important role in the necessary adaptation of pain treatment in the patient's everyday life.