title: Pain due to multiple sclerosis: analysis of the prevalence and economic burden in Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease affecting approximately 50,000 Canadians. Although studies have described overall MS costs, none have focused specifically on MS-related pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of MS-related pain in Canada, the proportion of patients treated and responding to treatment for MS-related pain, and the associated economic burden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results were captured through physician and patient surveys. Patients were recruited through MS clinics and the MS Society. Patient-reported outcomes and resource utilization over the previous six months were collected by telephone interview. Costs were measured in 2004 Canadian dollars. The economic burden was extrapolated to the population using national demographics and prevalence. Spearman's rho assessed the relationship between cost and pain severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physicians estimated that 46% of their MS patients experienced MS-related pain, and that 35% received treatment for pain. Pain was reported to be relieved somewhat in 29%+/-10% of their patients, adequately in 26%+/-19% and poorly in 27%+/-13%, while 17%+/-9% received no relief. Two hundred ninety-seven participants completed the patient survey. Seventy-one per cent (211 of 297 patients) experienced MS-related pain. Eighty per cent of patients reported taking some type of medication to manage their pain, and of these, 82% reported some reduction in pain. The mean +/- SD direct cost per patient of MS-related pain was dollars 2,528+/-5,695. The mean +/- SD indirect cost per patient was dollars 669+/-875. Total costs were positively correlated with levels of self-reported pain (rho=0.291, rho<0.0001). The estimated six-month burden of pain of MS patients in Canada was dollars 79,444,888.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of pain is high in MS patients. This condition may be underdiagnosed and undertreated, and results in a significant economic burden on society.
authors: PharmIdeas Research and Consulting Inc, Oakville, Ontario, Canada. cpiwko@pharmideas.com
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Piwko
authors: Olivier B
authors: OB
authors: Desjardins
authors: Basil G
authors: BG
authors: Bereza
authors: Marcio
authors: M
authors: Machado
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Jaszewski
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Freedman
authors: Thomas R
authors: TR
authors: Einarson
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Iskedjian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009462:Neurology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics