[Management of acute pain in Italy. Economic aspects and quality of life].
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to measure quality of life and treatment costs of patients with acute pain due to osteoarticular diseases;2 to asses associations between pain, quality of life and treatment costs from NHS' perspective.


METHODS
Observational, multicentric study; patients of both gender were enrolled sequentially from March to July 2002 and observed for 30 days. Type of pain was assessed by a McGill Pain Questionnaire, while degree of severity was measured by VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (very severe pain). Quality of life was assessed by EQ-5D (EuroQol/Quality of Life in Europe-5 Dimensions).


RESULTS
188 patients matched by gender and age in to four group: male < or =65 years (51), female < or =65 years (59), male > 65 years (42), female > 65 years (36). Male's age ranged from 36 to 88 years, while female's ranged from 31 to 87 years. Groups differ for type of pain. Cost after enrollment (48.99 Euro) is due for about 60% to diagnostic examinations, while pharmacological therapies account for only 17.64 Euro. Mean score of EQ-5D shows a low level of utility (0.265) that reflects a rather law quality of life. Patient older than 65 years had lower score than patient of the same gender but younger. Differences are significant in the dimension anxiety/depression that afflicts women and older patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study valued utility of patients with non oncological acute pain in Italy and health cost of diagnostic and therapeutic path faced by patients.
Colombo
Giorgio Lorenzo
GL
S.A.V.E. Studi Analisi Valutazioni Economiche, Milano.
Caruggi
Mauro
M
Serra
Giulio
G
Vinci
Marta
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000700:Analgesics