[Chronic pain among elderly residents in São Paulo, Brazil: prevalence, characteristics, and association with functional capacity and mobility (SABE Study)].

The objective was to identify the prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain and the association with functional capacity. This was a cross-sectional study with a population sample of community-dwelling elderly residents in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, using home interviews. Statistical analysis used the RaoScott test of association with p < 0.05. Prevalence of chronic pain was 29.7% (95%CI: 25.4-33.9), most frequent in the lower back (25.4%) and lower limbs (21.9%), and moderate in 45.8% and intense in 46% of the sample. Chronic pain was associated with increased dependence and decreased mobility (p < 0.001).