Commitment to activities and quality of life and associated factors in patients with chronic pain

Abstract

ackground Chronic pain leads to functional and social disability, emotionally impacting individuals. Objective: To describe the main impairments of activities of daily living, anxious and depressive symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic pain. Methods: Cross-sectional study with patients at the Chronic Pain Clinic attended between June / 2016 and March / 2019. Clinical and socio-demographic variables were collected, using the Hospital scale for Anxiety and Depression, Visual Numerical Scale for Pain, SF-36 scale for Quality of Life, and data analysis using the SPSS statistical program. Results: The mean age was 50.0±10 years, being (89.6%) female. There was a predominance of people with a partner, with religion, complete high school education and unemployed. Degenerative disease was the most frequent diagnosis (68.9%); pain intensity ranged from moderate to severe, score 6-8 (7). Most used drugs were analgesics (93.3%) followed by antidepressants (70.7%). Physical activity as an adjuvant treatment (41.5%), and anesthetic blocks (39.6%). When investigating daily activities, the work showed total limitation followed by movement; and, partially, leisure and home activity. The quality of life was well below the median, with the physical and emotional aspects being worse. Related to the subjects' activities, sleep is the most compromised; followed by partial difficulties with appetite and sexual activity. Most show self-esteem moderately satisfied with the treatment, even with anxious and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Pain has a very significant impact on quality of life; compromises and limits daily activities and reveals more presence of anxious and depressive symptoms in people suffering from chronic pain.