Cross-sectional evaluation of patient functioning and health-related quality of life in patients with neuropathic pain under standard care conditions.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this cross-sectional evaluation was to determine the impact of neuropathic pain (NeP) on patient functioning and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) under standard care conditions.


METHODS
Patients with NeP or neuropathic and nociceptive pain [Mixed Pain (MP)] enrolled in the DONEGA study, a naturalistic, prospective and multi-centre study of the effectiveness of gabapentin under usual care conditions, were included in this cross-sectional evaluation before starting study treatments. Participants completed the Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire, MOS Short Form-12 (SF-12), and Sheehan Disability Scale (ShDS). Multivariate analysis and regression models were used to analyze patient data.


RESULTS
A total of 1519 patients [mean+/-SD; 56.0+/-13.7 yrs old (58.8% female)] with NeP or MP were enrolled in the study. The mean pain history was 1.1+/-2.8 yrs, current pain intensity on a 5-point visual analogue scale was 2.8+/-1.0 and mean pain in previous week was 71.3+/-19.0mm. Pain substantially interfered (i.e., score > or = 5 on 0-10 scale) with normal work (5.9+/-3.0), social life (5.7+/-3.0), and family life (5.3+/-3.0), producing substantial disability (total ShDS score of 16.9+/-8.3 pts). Country-standardised physical (PCS) and mental health (MCS) component summary scores of SF-12 indicated significant impairment in both domains compared with the general Spanish population: PCS; -1.13+/-1.0 SDS (standard deviation score), and MCS; -1.21+/-0.7 SDS, equivalent to the 15th and 25th percentiles of normative populations, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Under standard care conditions, neuropathic and mixed pain are associated with impaired physical and mental QoL, producing a substantial level of disability in these patients.
Pain and Palliative Care Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Unidad de dolor y Cuidados Paliativos, Avda de las Fuerzas Armadas, 2, 18014 Granada, Spain. rafaelgalvez@hotmail.com
Rafael
R
Gálvez
Carlos
C
Marsal
Javier
J
Vidal
Manuel
M
Ruiz
Javier
J
Rejas
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin