title: Impact of neuropathic pain at the population level.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the chief complaints of individuals who frequent the Family Health Units is chronic pain which, in Salvador, affects over 40% of the population. However, little is known about the type of pain and its impact on quality of life (QoL) at population level. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of neuropathic pain on QoL in a community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to October 2012, in a Family Health Unit, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The DN-4 (type of pain), body map (location), VAS (intensity) and SF-36 (QoL) instruments were applied. The Chi-square (univariate analysis) and logistic regression (multivariate) tests were used, with IC 95% and P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a sample of 191 individuals with chronic pain, predominantly women (86.4%), single (48.7%), nonwhite (93.2%), low educational (46.6%) and low economic (100%) level. The most affected locations of the body were knees, lumbar region and head. In 60.2% of interviewees, neuropathic pain, of high intensity (VAS = 7.09 ± 3.0) predominated, with duration of 8.53 ± 8.8 years and mean QoL was reduced in 47.13%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intense pain in the dorsal region and type of neuropathy are independent predictors for greater compromise of QoL.
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saude Publica, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Shirley Maranhao
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Abrahao Fontes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saude Publica, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saude Publica, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kamilla Soares
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saude Publica, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sharize Cristine de Araujo
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gois
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saude Publica, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Manoela de Almeida
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Instituto Federal de Educacao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saude Publica, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katia Nunes
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Sa
keywords: Chronic pain; Neuropathic pain; Pain; Population; Quality of life