The AGS published its first pain guideline in 1998. To arrive at the 2009 recommendations, a panel of experts conducted a systematic review of 2,400 abstracts and 240 data-based, full-text articles. The panel focused on pharmacotherapy because it is the most common strategy used for pain management among elderly people, as well as the area of greatest risk, said Dr. Bruce Ferrell of the University of California, Los Angeles, who chaired the panel. The 2009 update is to be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Dr. Katz disclosed that he has served as a paid consultant in the last 12 months for the American Academy of CME Inc. and for UCB Pharma Inc. Dr. Fine said he is a paid consultant or speaker for numerous pharmaceutical companies and has commercial interests in Johnson & Johnson and Cephalon Inc. Dr. Ferrell disclosed no relevant conflict of interest.
Members of the American Geriatric Society panel on the pharmacologic management of persistent pain in older persons include (from left to right) Dr. Bruce Ferrell, Dr. Perry Fine, Dr. James Katz, Dr. F. Michael Gloth III, and Lori Reisner, Pharm.D., shown discussing the release of the guidelines at the AGS annual meeting. Patrice Wendling/Elsevier Global Medical News