The Frequency of Neuropathic Pain and Associated Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and incidence of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine the relationship between neuropathic pain scores, quality of life and functional status.

Methods 119 patients with RA and 45 control subjects with acute non-inflammatory pain were recruited for the study. Disease activity with DAS28 (Disease Activity Score-28), pain visual analog scale, functional status and quality of life were recorded. Quality of life was evaluated with the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Scale (RAQoL), and functional status was assessed with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The presence of NP was evaluated with the LANSS (Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs), Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) and painDETECT questionnaires (PDQ).

Results The prevalence of NP according to LANSS, DN4 and PDQ was 63.9%, 58.8% and 51.3% in the RA group and 6.7%, 4.4% and 4.4% in the control group, respectively. NP scores were significantly higher in the RA group (p<0.001). LANSS, DN4 and PDQ scores correlated with VAS, HAQ and RAQoL scores.

Conclusion The NP evaluated with different pain questionnaires is not rare in patients with RA and is related to functional status and quality of life.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel  Ziel dieser Studie war es, das Vorhandensein und die Häufigkeit neuropathischer Schmerzen (NS) bei Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis (RA) zu bewerten und den Zusammenhang zwischen neuropathischen Schmerzwerten, Lebensqualität und Funktionsstatus zu bestimmen.

Methoden   Für die Studie wurden 119 Patienten mit RA und 45 Kontrollpersonen mit akuten nicht-entzündlichen Schmerzen rekrutiert. Krankheitsaktivität mit DAS28 (Krankheitsaktivitätswert: 28), Schmerz visuelle Analogskala, Funktionsstatus und Lebensqualität waren verzeichnet. Die Lebensqualität wurde mit dem Rheuma bewertet Arthritis-Lebensqualitätsskala (RAQoL) und Funktionsstatus wurde mit dem Fragebogen zur Gesundheitsbewertung (HAQ) bewertet. Das Vorhandensein von NS wurde mit bewertet LANSS (Leeds-Bewertung neuropathischer Symptome und Zeichen), Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) und PainDETECT-Fragebögen (PDQ).

Ergebnisse   Die NS-Prävalenz betrug laut LANSS, DN4 und PDQ 63,9%, 58,8% bzw. 51,3% in der RA-Gruppe und 6,7%, 4,4% bzw. 4,4% in der Kontrollgruppe. Die NP-Werte waren in der RA-Gruppe signifikant höher (p<0,001). LANSS, DN4 und PDQ-Scores korrelierten mit VAS, HAQ und RAQoL Partituren.

Abschluss   Der mit verschiedenen Schmerzfragebögen ausgewertete NS ist bei Patienten mit RA nicht selten und steht im Zusammenhang mit dem Funktionsstatus und der Lebensqualität.

Keywords

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Neuropathic Pain - Quality of Life - Functional Status

Schlüsselwörter

Rheumatoide Arthritis - Neuropathische Schmerzen - Lebensqualität - Funktionsstatus

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 08. Juni 2023

Angenommen: 05. Januar 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
14. März 2024

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