title: Relationship between Neuropathic Pain and Obesity.
abstract: Objectives. Overweight negatively affects musculoskeletal health; hence obesity is considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. This was conducted to determine if obesity affects neuropathic pain, usually considered unrelated to the weight-load on the musculoskeletal system. Methods. Using a cut-off body mass index value of 25, 44 patients with neuropathic pain were grouped into a "high-BMI" group and a "normal-BMI" group. Results. The numeric rating scale of the high-BMI group was significantly higher than that of the normal-weight group (P < 0.05). The total NPSI scores were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the paroxysmal pain and the negative symptoms were more serious in the high-BMI group than in the normal-BMI group. The high-BMI subjects also had significantly higher SF-MPQ scores (P < 0.05). However, both physical and mental health status on the SF-36 were comparable between the groups. Discussion. Neuropathic pain that did not arise from musculoskeletal damage was higher in the high-BMI patients. Paroxysmal pain was more severe, suggesting that neural damage might be aggravated by obesity-associated inflammation. These findings should have needed to be confirmed in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hozumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsubayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chikuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jichi University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires