Age affected coping strategies among patients with sickle cell disease

Issue: February 25, 2010

Despite similarities in the pain associated with sickle cell disease among patients of different ages, methods of health care utilization to deal with pain and strategies for coping with the pain differed by age group.

According to the researchers, data on health care utilization and coping strategies among patients with sickle cell disease is lacking, especially when examining these problems across patients’ lifespan, now that patients with this disease are living longer.

In their study, the researchers hoped to identify differences in pain, coping and health care utilization among younger vs. older adults with sickle cell disease.

Seventy patients were enrolled. Patients were taken from an outpatient Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. The average age of patients was 34.9 years. Younger patients were defined as those aged 18 to 36 years; older patients were aged 37 to 62 years.

Patients’ pain, coping and health care utilization were measured using a variety of questionnaires.

Reports of the number of pain crises, ED visits and inpatient admissions varied among patients.

The number of pain crisis and the intensity of the pain did not differ by age group. In addition, there were no differences between age groups for the number of self-reported complications or overall health care utilization.

However, a difference was noted for the pattern of health care utilization. Younger patients were identified as more frequently using the ED or having hospital admissions vs. older patients who were more likely to use outpatient clinics.

Differences were also identified for coping strategies for older vs. younger patients. Younger patients were more likely to ignore the pain or use heat/cold/massage to manage it. Older patients were more likely to use praying and hoping to cope with their disease.

For more information:

Sanders KA. J Health Psychol. 2010:15:131-137.