Joint pain is a common complaint in the aged people. Research showed that 68–85% of older adults with joint pain also have at least one chronic disease (comorbidity). Hoogendijk E O and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the self-perceived care needs and determinants of identified needs in older adults with joint pain and comorbidity.

The study used baseline data from a cohort study of older adults in the Netherlands (≥65 years) with joint pain and comorbidity (n = 407). The Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) was used to determine the self-perceived care needs. Regression analyses was performed to evaluate the associations between needs and other factors. These factors included sociodemographic factors (age, gender, partner status and educational level), physical factors (pain intensity, comorbidity, frailty and physical functioning) and psychosocial factors (anxiety, depression and social support). The findings of the study revealed that older adults with joint pain and comorbidity reported an average 4.0 care needs out of 13 CANE items, of which 0.3 were unmet. High levels of environmental and physical needs were reported. These include needs regarding physical illness (91%), household (61%) and mobility/falls (53%). However, most of these needs were met. Psychosocial needs were reported by only few people, but majority of these needs were unmet, mainly regarding company (66.7%) and daytime activities (37%). Moreover, psychosocial needs were more often present in frail participants (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.25-4.61), and those with less perceived social support (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.08) and more depressive symptoms (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.26).

Therefore, it concludes that unmet needs are mainly present in the psychosocial domain. Focusing specific attention at these unmet needs may improve psychosocial well-being of older adults with joint pain and comorbidity.