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Alshami AM. Prevalence of Pain and Its Relationship with Age and Sex among Patients in Saudi Arabia. J Clin Med 2023; 13:133. [PMID: 38202140 PMCID: PMC10779872 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies investigating the prevalence of patients with pain referred for physical therapy in Saudi Arabia are scarce. This study aimed to estimate the period prevalence of pain that led to referrals for physical therapy and to evaluate the association between pain and patient age and sex. METHODS This retrospective study used data from the electronic health record system of a hospital for adult patients referred for physical therapy. RESULTS In total, 7426 (26.0%) patients (mean (±SD) age, 51.4 ± 15.0 years) experienced pain, the majority of whom were female (65.8%). The back (30.7%) was the most commonly reported pain region, followed by the neck (13.2%), shoulders (12.1%), and knees (11.8%). The referring physician(s) identified pain in a specific body region in 5894 of the 7426 (79.4%) patients. A moderate correlation was found between sex and pain region (Cramer's V = 0.151, p < 0.001) and between age group and pain region (Cramer's V = 0.10, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Pain was prevalent among adult patients referred for physical therapy and was moderately associated with sex and age. Further research examining the prevalence of pain and its risk factors in a larger, representative sample of the population is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali M Alshami
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 2435, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
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Barcelon E, Chung S, Lee J, Lee SJ. Sexual Dimorphism in the Mechanism of Pain Central Sensitization. Cells 2023; 12:2028. [PMID: 37626838 PMCID: PMC10453375 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
It has long been recognized that men and women have different degrees of susceptibility to chronic pain. Greater recognition of the sexual dimorphism in chronic pain has resulted in increasing numbers of both clinical and preclinical studies that have identified factors and mechanisms underlying sex differences in pain sensitization. Here, we review sexually dimorphic pain phenotypes in various research animal models and factors involved in the sex difference in pain phenotypes. We further discuss putative mechanisms for the sexual dimorphism in pain sensitization, which involves sex hormones, spinal cord microglia, and peripheral immune cells. Elucidating the sexually dimorphic mechanism of pain sensitization may provide important clinical implications and aid the development of sex-specific therapeutic strategies to treat chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellane Barcelon
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Seohyun Chung
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Jaesung Lee
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
- Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Joong Lee
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (E.B.); (S.C.); (J.L.)
- Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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Baskozos G, Hébert HL, Pascal MM, Themistocleous AC, Macfarlane GJ, Wynick D, Bennett DL, Smith BH. Epidemiology of neuropathic pain: an analysis of prevalence and associated factors in UK Biobank. Pain Rep 2023; 8:e1066. [PMID: 37090682 PMCID: PMC7614463 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. An analysis of UK Biobank participants who completed a detailed pain questionnaire identified factors associated with neuropathic pain (NeuP) vs no chronic pain and non-NeuP and estimated the prevalence of NeuP. Introduction: Previous epidemiological studies of neuropathic pain have reported a range of prevalences and factors associated with the disorder. Objectives: This study aimed to verify these characteristics in a large UK cohort. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 148,828 UK Biobank participants who completed a detailed questionnaire on chronic pain. The Douleur Neuropathique en Quatre Questions (DN4) was used to distinguish between neuropathic pain (NeuP) and non-neuropathic pain (non-NeuP) in participants with pain of at least 3 months' duration. Participants were also identified with less than 3 months' pain or without pain (NoCP). Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with NeuP compared with non-NeuP and NoCP, respectively. Results: Chronic pain was present in 76,095 participants (51.1%). The overall prevalence of NeuP was 9.2%. Neuropathic pain was significantly associated with worse health-related quality of life, having a manual or personal service type occupation, and younger age compared with NoCP. As expected, NeuP was associated with diabetes and neuropathy, but also other pains (pelvic, postsurgical, and migraine) and musculoskeletal disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia). In addition, NeuP was associated with pain in the limbs and greater pain intensity and higher body mass index compared with non-NeuP. Female sex was associated with NeuP when compared with NoCP, whereas male sex was associated with NeuP when compared with non-NeuP. Conclusion: This is the largest epidemiological study of neuropathic pain to date. The results confirm that the disorder is common in a population of middle- to older-aged people with mixed aetiologies and is associated with a higher health impact than non-neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Baskozos
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Harry L. Hébert
- Chronic Pain Research Group, Division of Population Health and Genomics, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Mathilde M.V. Pascal
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas C. Themistocleous
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gary J. Macfarlane
- Epidemiology Group and Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - David Wynick
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - David L.H. Bennett
- Neural Injury Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Blair H. Smith
- Chronic Pain Research Group, Division of Population Health and Genomics, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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Perioperative Dexmedetomidine or Lidocaine Infusion for the Prevention of Chronic Postoperative and Neuropathic Pain After Gynecological Surgery: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study. Pain Ther 2022; 11:529-543. [PMID: 35167059 PMCID: PMC9098708 DOI: 10.1007/s40122-022-00361-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The transition of acute to chronic postoperative pain (CPP) remains a significant burden to the rehabilitation of patients. The research for adjuvants to prevent CPP continues; among others, dexmedetomidine and lidocaine seem promising agents. Methods This is a long-term follow-up of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study on women who underwent open abdominal gynecological surgery and received dexmedetomidine or lidocaine or placebo infusion perioperatively (n = 81). The effect of these adjuvants on the development of CPP and neuropathic pain was assessed during a 12-month follow-up. Eighty-one (81) women ASA I–II, aged between 30 and 70 years, were randomly assigned to receive either dexmedetomidine (DEX group) or lidocaine (LIDO group) or placebo (CONTROL group) perioperatively. Before anesthesia induction, all patients received a loading intravenous dose of either 0.6 μg/kg dexmedetomidine or 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine or placebo, followed by 0.6 μg/kg/h dexmedetomidine or 1.5 mg/kg/h lidocaine or placebo until last suture. Patients were followed up to obtain the long-term outcomes at 3, 6, and 12 months. At these time-points, pain intensity was assessed with the Numerical Rating Scale, (NRS: 0–10) and the development of neuropathic elements with the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) score. Prognostic parameters that could affect chronic pain and its components were also identified. Results Data from 74 women were analyzed. Dexmedetomidine significantly reduced NRS scores comparing to placebo at 3 months (p = 0.018), while at 6 months, lidocaine was found superior to placebo (p = 0.02), but not to dexmedetomidine, in preventing neuropathic pain (DN4 < 4). Regarding secondary endpoints, higher NRS cough scores at 48 h were associated with statistically significant NRS and DN4 scores at 3, 6, and 12 months (p < 0.02). At 6 months, a statistically significant correlation was also found between higher NRS values and older age (p = 0.020). Conclusions Dexmedetomidine was superior to placebo regarding the duration and severity of CPP, while lidocaine exhibited a protective effect against neuropathic elements of CPP. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03363425. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40122-022-00361-5.
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Alhalal E, Jackson KT. Evaluation of the Arabic version of the Chronic Pain Grade scale: Psychometric properties. Res Nurs Health 2021; 44:403-412. [PMID: 33586152 DOI: 10.1002/nur.22116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
To increase our understanding of chronic pain in clinical and research contexts, an assessment of its dimensions using reliable and valid self-reported pain measures is imperative. However, well-validated Arabic chronic pain assessment scales are lacking. The Chronic Pain Grade (CPG) scale has been used worldwide, yet an Arabic version of the CPG scale has not yet been validated. Thus, we conducted this study to demonstrate the psychometric properties, including reliability, convergent validity, and construct validity of the Arabic CPG scale. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 233 chronic pain patients. The confirmatory factor analysis showed an excellent fit with the factor structure of the CPG scale and, thus, supported construct validity. The two identified subscales were pain intensity and pain disability. Convergent validity was supported by having significant correlations between the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and CPG subscales. Internal consistency reliability was demonstrated, as Cronbach's α was 0.916 for pain intensity and 0.815 for pain disability. This study provides evidence that the Arabic CPG scale is a reliable and valid measure of chronic pain dimensions, including pain intensity, and pain-related disability. This Arabic version of the CPG scale has the potential to expand research and clinical assessment in the Arab world. Future studies are required for further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Alhalal
- Nursing College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kimberley T Jackson
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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AlSufyani MH, Alzahrani AM, Allah AA, Abdullah RI, Alzhrani SH, Alsaab AA. Prevalence of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its impact on quality of life among diabetic patients in Western region, Saudi Arabia. J Family Med Prim Care 2020; 9:4897-4903. [PMID: 33209819 PMCID: PMC7652107 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_488_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Diabetic neuropathy is the most common long-term complications of diabetes, frequently presenting as painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN), which can significantly impair patients' quality of life (QOL). This study set to estimate the prevalence of PNPD and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the setting of primary health care in Saudi Arabia. Methods This study was conducted in primary health-care centers affiliated with the National Guard Health Affairs in Western Saudi Arabia. Arabic version of the Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire was administered on diabetic patients to screen for neuropathic pain and short-form 12 questionnaire to assess HRQoL. Results The study screened (n = 349) Type 2 diabetic patients. The prevalence of PDPN was 33.2%. PDRN was more likely to affect females (adjusted odds ratio ["AOR"] =1.96, P = 0.024), and those living with diabetes for over 15 years (AOR = 2.26, P = 0.039), and those on insulin treatment (AOR: 2.33, P = 0.010) alone or in combination (AOR = 1.78, P = 0.034). Both physical and mental components (MCs) of QOL scores were significantly higher in diabetic patients without PDPN compared to those with it; 49.57 ± 9.31 versus 40.77 ± 8.14 for physical component QOL and 51.72 ± 9.36 versus 44.35 ± 8.12 for MC QOL, P < 0.001. Discussion and Conclusion Painful peripheral neuropathy is relatively common among type 2 diabetic patients in Western Saudi Arabia and impacts both physical and MCs of the QOL of affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maram Hassan AlSufyani
- Department of Primary Health Care, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M Alzahrani
- Primary Health Care Department, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Aman Allah
- Primary Health Care Department, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Sara Hasan Alzhrani
- Department of Family Medicine, Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel Ali Alsaab
- Medical Intern, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Almalki MT, BinBaz SS, Alamri SS, Alghamdi HH, El-Kabbani AO, Al Mulhem AA, Alzubaidi SA, Altowairqi AT, Alrbeeai HA, Alharthi WM, Alswat KA. Prevalence of chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 2020; 40:1256-1266. [PMID: 31828278 PMCID: PMC6969620 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2019.12.24690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of chronic pain (CP) and high-impact chronic pain (HICP) in a sample of the general adult population in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional online survey (N=24,265). Forty data collectors from 5 regions of Saudi Arabia approached people to complete the questionnaires through different social media applications, using a validated survey in Arabic language. Results: Chronic pain and HICP prevalences in the Saudi adult population were found to be 46.4% (CP) and 4% (HICP), with a higher prevalence among women and elderly. Chronic back pain was the most reported pain location. Half of the respondents reported dissatisfaction with pain services. Greater prevalence of HICP was found among women, elderly, unemployed, and those with low-income status. Patients with HICP were more likely to have more healthcare utilization and have more negative impacts on their physical and psychological wellbeing. Conclusion: Chronic pain and HICP are common in Saudi Arabia, especially among females and elderly, suggesting a public health problem. This calls for collaborative efforts at various levels of the social hierarchy to ensure the provision of effective management of CP in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed T Almalki
- Department of Anesthesia, King Salman Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail.
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The Experiences of People Living with Peripheral Neuropathy in Kuwait-A Process Map of the Patient Journey. PHARMACY 2019; 7:pharmacy7030127. [PMID: 31480223 PMCID: PMC6789644 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy7030127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy is a neurological disease characterised by pain, numbness, tingling, swelling or muscle weakness due to nerve damage, caused by multiple factors such as trauma, infections and metabolic diseases such as diabetes. In Kuwait 54% of the diabetic population, has peripheral neuropathy. In this exploratory, qualitative study conducted in Kuwait, 25 subjects with peripheral neuropathy took part in one-on-one, semi-structured interviews lasting 45–60 min. Interviews were transcribed, translated into English and coded using NVivo 12. Four individual patient journeys were mapped out in detail, then compared and condensed into a single process map. The remaining 21 interviews were then reviewed to ensure the final map represented all patient journeys. Participants reported similar healthcare pathways for their peripheral neuropathy and faced various difficulties including lack of psychological support, administrative issues (long waiting referral periods, loss of medical documents, shortage of specialists and lack of centralized electronic medical records) and inadequate medical care (shortage of new treatments and deficient follow-ups). Mapping the patient journey in Kuwait showed similar pharmacological treatment to UK guidelines, except that some medicines were unavailable. The map also indicated the need for an integrated referral approach, the use of technology for electronic medical recording and report transmission, alongside education on self-management, coping mechanisms and treatment options for people living with peripheral neuropathy.
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El-Metwally A, Shaikh Q, Aldiab A, Al-Zahrani J, Al-Ghamdi S, Alrasheed AA, Househ M, Da’ar OB, Nooruddin S, Razzak HA, Aldossari KK. The prevalence of chronic pain and its associated factors among Saudi Al-Kharj population; a cross sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2019; 20:177. [PMID: 31027485 PMCID: PMC6485157 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-019-2555-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain (CP) can be a symptom of many underlying health issues. The consequences of CP may vary from slight discomfort to disruption of quality of life and normal functioning. In this study, we aim to investigate the prevalence of CP and its associated factors in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia. We recruited 1031 participants for our study. Data was collected on socio-demographic, health predictors and anthropometric measurements (such as weight, height and waist circumference). The data analysis was performed on JMP®, Version 12. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, 1989-2007. RESULTS The prevalence of self-reported chronic pain in Al Kharj population was 19% with a mean age of 26.4 (SD = 8.6) years. The most common locations of pain included; back pain (30%), abdominal pain (26%), headache (13%), and any musculoskeletal pain (56%). Multiple logistic regression revealed that presence of a chronic disease (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 2.3-6.2), psychological disease (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2-4.3), high General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 score (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.03-1.1), and pack-years of smoking (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.01-1.08) were significantly related to chronic pain in Al Kharj population. CONCLUSIONS Our study results found a high burden of chronic pain in this selected Saudi population. The most prevalent pain was low back pain. The presence of chronic and psychological diseases were strongly related to chronic pain. Future prospective studies are needed to establish the temporal relationship of chronic pain with these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf El-Metwally
- College of Public Health & Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Mail Code 2350, P.O. Box 3660, Riyadh, 11481 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Docent of Epidemiology, School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Quratulain Shaikh
- Indus Hospital Research Center, Indus Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Abdulrahman Aldiab
- Department of Medicine, Oncology division, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamaan Al-Zahrani
- Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sameer Al-Ghamdi
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah A. Alrasheed
- Family and Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mowafa Househ
- School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Omar B. Da’ar
- College of Public Health & Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Mail Code 2350, P.O. Box 3660, Riyadh, 11481 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Khaled K. Aldossari
- Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
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Wong SSC, Choi SW, Cheung CW. A comparison of chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in a Hong Kong Chinese population: An analysis of pain related outcomes and patient help seeking behaviour. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204054. [PMID: 30356236 PMCID: PMC6200186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective In Western countries, chronic pain patients with neuropathic characteristics have more intense pain, greater negative impact in quality of life and worse psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes, impact, and health seeking behaviours in Chinese chronic pain patients with and without neuropathic characteristics in Hong Kong. Methods Random telephone survey was conducted on the general Hong Kong population, and based on the Nuprin Pain Report. Specific questions on chronic and neuropathic pain were included. Respondents with pain lasting three months or more were asked to indicate their two most painful sites. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to investigate differences between variables in patients with and without neuropathic characteristics. P<0.05 was regarded as significant. Results The response rate was 32.3%. Chronic pain patients with neuropathic characteristics reported higher pain scores and longer duration of pain (p = 0.0001). They reported greater negative impact on work and effect on daily life (p = 0.0131); were significantly more likely to consult pain specialists (p = 0.0006), Chinese medicine practitioners (p = 0.0203), and psychiatrists (p = 0.0212); and were significantly less likely to be prescribed oral analgesics (p = 0.0226), to feel ‘very satisfied’ (p = 0.0263) with prescribed treatment and to find oral analgesics ‘very useful’ (p = 0.0215). There was no difference in oral analgesic medications taken. Conclusion Chinese individuals having chronic pain with neuropathic characteristics had worse pain related outcomes. Differences in help-seeking behaviour were observed. Lack of appropriate analgesic prescription suggests that identification and management of chronic neuropathic pain in Hong Kong needs to be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Sau Ching Wong
- Laboratory and Clinical Research Institute for Pain, Department of Anaesthesiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HKSAR
| | - Siu Wai Choi
- Department of Oro-maxillofacial surgery, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
| | - Chi Wai Cheung
- Laboratory and Clinical Research Institute for Pain, Department of Anaesthesiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HKSAR
- * E-mail:
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