Faculty Collaboration Database

Neuropathic pain is associated with poor health-related quality of life in adolescents with sickle cell disease: A preliminary report. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020 Dec;67(12):e28698

Date

10/10/2020

Pubmed ID

33034107

DOI

10.1002/pbc.28698

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85092201457 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   9 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain is associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQL) in pain conditions other than sickle cell disease (SCD); this relationship in SCD is unknown. We investigated this relationship and hypothesized neuropathic pain is associated with poor HRQL in adolescents with SCD.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with SCD ages 13-18 years during baseline health. Primary outcome was HRQL, assessed by the PedsQL SCD Module (child self-report, parent proxy report). PedsQL is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better HRQL. Neuropathic pain was assessed using the painDETECT questionnaire (scored 0-38); higher scores indicated greater likelihood of neuropathic pain. All completed both PedsQL SCD Module and painDETECT questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used and associations between painDETECT and PedsQL Total Score, Pain Impact, Pain and Hurt, and Pain Management and Control Scores were determined via Pearson correlation. Significance was P < .05.

RESULTS: Twelve patients were enrolled. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 15 (14-16.5) years, 75% were female, and 83% were on hydroxyurea. Higher painDETECT scores were significantly associated with lower PedsQL SCD Module child self-report Pain and Hurt Scores (r = -0.68, P = .01). Higher painDETECT scores were also significantly associated with lower PedsQL parent proxy-report Total Scores (r = -0.64, P = .03) and Pain and Hurt Scores (r = -0.67, P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that adolescents with SCD and neuropathic pain have poor HRQL even in their baseline state of health. Prospective, larger studies are needed to confirm this preliminary finding and explore a multimodal approach for pain assessment in SCD.

Author List

Román ME, Highland J, Retherford D, Pan AY, Panepinto JA, Brandow AM

Authors

Amanda Brandow DO Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Amy Y. Pan PhD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Marisa E. Roman MD Instructor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Anemia, Sickle Cell
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health Status
Humans
Male
Neuralgia
Pain Measurement
Patient Reported Outcome Measures
Prognosis
Quality of Life
Severity of Illness Index
Surveys and Questionnaires