Trickle-down healthcare in paediatric chronic pain

Efficacy and safety of pharmacological, physical, and psychological interventions for the management of chronic pain in children: a WHO systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Chronic pain in childhood is an international public health problem. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a summary of the published evidence of pharmacological, physical, and psychological therapies for children with chronic pain conditions. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO from inception to April 2020; clinical trial registries; and other sources for randomised controlled trials or comparative observational trials. We extracted critical outcomes of pain intensity, quality of life, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, sleep, and adverse events. We assessed studies for risk of bias and certainty of the evidence using GRADE. We included 34 pharmacological (4091 participants), 25 physical therapy (1470 participants), and 63 psychological trials (5025 participants). Participants reported a range of chronic pain conditions. Most studies were assessed to have unclear or high risk of bias across multiple domains. Pharmacological, physical, and psychological therapies showed some benefit for reducing pain, posttreatment, but only physical and psychological therapies improved physical functioning. We found no benefit of any treatment modality for health-related quality of life, role functioning, emotional functioning, or sleep. Adverse events were poorly reported, particularly for psychological and physical interventions. The largest evidence base for the management of chronic pain in children supports the use of psychological therapies, followed by pharmacological and physical therapies. However, we rated most outcomes as low or very low certainty, meaning further evidence is likely to change our confidence in the estimates of effects. This protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020172451).

Early age at menarche is associated with post-menarche back pain: An analysis of the Raine Study

INTRODUCTION

Back pain (BP) experienced by females during adolescent years appears to predispose them to an increased likelihood of its presence in adulthood. Understanding this phenomenon by identifying risk factors of those at risk potentially fosters preventative strategies and effective treatments.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate for associations between post-menarche BP and low back pain (LBP) and age at menarche (AAM) in Australian adolescents using the Western Australian pregnancy cohort (The Raine Study).

METHODS

This study used data from a longitudinal cohort study. BP data were collected retrospectively using a questionnaire. Menarche data was split into three established age classifications early (<12-years), normal (≥12 to >14-years) and late (≥14-years). Logistic regression models examined the effect of AAM on BP.

RESULTS

666 female participants provided valid menarche data with 183 (27.5%) early AAM, 429 (64.4%) normal AAM and 54 (8.1%) with late AAM. The mean AAM was 12.59 years. BP was disclosed by 27.5% in the 14-year follow-up and 31.5% in the 17-year follow-up. Participants who had early AAM had 79% higher odds of experiencing BP compared to participants who had normal AAM, after adjusting for confounders at the 14-year follow-up (adjOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.18-2.64).

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of an association, in this cohort, of early AAM with post-menarche BP. This result identifies an area for future exploration, including understanding this mechanism which may lead to the development of effective intervention measures.

SIGNIFICANCE

Age at menarche is related to a range of health issues. This study sought to investigate if it was a risk factor for spinal pain. We used an existing Australian data base to explore this possibility and found an association with early age onset and post-menarche back pain. This result identifies an area for future exploration, including understanding this mechanism which may lead to the development of effective intervention measures.

Social deprivation and paediatric chronic pain referrals in Ireland: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Social deprivation is associated with a higher prevalence of chronic pain in children and an under-representation in specialist paediatric chronic pain programs. Our primary objective was to determine if there was a relationship between social deprivation and paediatric chronic pain referrals in Ireland. Secondary objectives included analysing for differences between deprivation groups in pain characteristics and function that are recorded at first clinic visit.

METHODS

Families attending the national paediatric complex pain service in Dublin, Ireland, complete questionnaires on pain characteristics, parental pain catastrophizing, and pain-related disability including sleep quality and school attendance. We retrospectively reviewed records from between February 2016 and November 2019 on 288 patients. Social deprivation was assessed using the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, which is based on data from the Irish national census.

RESULTS

Referrals followed a normal distribution across deprivation grades. Children in the disadvantaged group had a longer duration of pain, greater use of screens at bedtime, and longer sleep onset latency. Parents in the disadvantaged group had significantly higher levels of parental pain catastrophizing.

CONCLUSIONS

In Ireland, while paediatric chronic pain referrals were normally distributed across deprivation group, the disadvantaged group was different in several ways that may be clinically significant. Further work will be needed to determine the longitudinal relationship between these factors before and after the referral and initial review. Screening for, and targeting, potential risk factors for pain chronicity may be needed to harmonize treatment outcomes in children from socially disadvantaged families.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic and Mixed Pain in Children and Adolescents: Results of a Survey Study amongst Practitioners

Validated diagnostic tools to diagnose chronic neuropathic and mixed pain in children are missing. Therapeutic options are often derived from therapeutics for adults. To investigate the international practice amongst practitioners for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic, neuropathic pain in children and adolescents, we performed a survey study among members of learned societies or groups whose members are known to treat pediatric pain. The survey included questions concerning practitioners and practice characteristics, assessment and diagnosis, treatment and medication. We analyzed 117 returned questionnaires, of which 41 (35%) were fully completed and 76 (65%) were partially completed. Most respondents based the diagnosis of neuropathic pain on physical examination (68 (58.1%)), patient history (67 (57.3%)), and underlying disease (59 (50.4%)) combined. Gabapentin, amitriptyline, and pregabalin were the first-choice treatments for moderate neuropathic pain. Tramadol, ibuprofen, amitriptyline, and paracetamol were the first-choice treatments for moderate mixed pain. Consensus on the diagnostic process of neuropathic pain in children and adolescents is lacking. Drug treatment varies widely for moderate, severe neuropathic, and mixed pain. Hence, diagnostic tools and therapy need to be harmonized and validated for use in children.