Examining the association between pain severity and quality-of-life, work-productivity loss, and healthcare resource use among European adults diagnosed with pain

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this research was to quantify the association between pain severity and several health outcomes in a large sample of patients diagnosed with some form of pain. Methods: Responses from patients who had been diagnosed with some form of pain (n ¼ 14,459) were drawn from the 2013 EU National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS; n ¼ 62,000). Respondents reported their subjective pain severity in the past week on a numerical rating scale (0-10) as well as the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), and healthcare resource utilization in the past 6 months (healthcare professional (HCP) visits, emergency room (ER) visits, and hospitalizations). Associations between pain severity and health outcomes were examined via a series of regression models controlling for a set of demographic and health-related covariates. Results: After controlling for demographics and comorbidities, pain severity in the past week was shown to be significantly negatively associated with Health Utilities (b ¼ À0.022, p < 0.001) and positively associated with overall WPAI scores (b ¼ 0.18, p < 0.001) and healthcare resource use (Hospitalizations: b ¼ 0.13, p < 0.001; ER Visits: b ¼ 0.14, p < 0.001; HCP Visits: b ¼ 0.08, p < 0.001). The nature of these relationships (linear, curvilinear, etc.) is also explored. Limitations: This study was a self-report cross-sectional study which may have biased the results and does not allow for causal inferences to be made. Finally, the regression models run were limited to available covariates and, hence, some potentially important covariates may not have been included in these models. Conclusions: The findings suggest that reducing pain severity could result in an increase in patients' quality-of-life and work productivity, and a decrease in healthcare resource use. The equations, linking pain and outcomes, were presented in an accessible format so they could be readily applied in healthcare decision-making. ARTICLE HISTORY

The role of pain catastrophizing as a mediator in the work disability process following acute low back pain

“…For example, the Fear‐Avoidance Model suggests that perceptions of pain lead to pain catastrophizing, as was found in this study (Leeuw et al., ; Vlaeyen, Kole‐Snijders, Boeren, & van Eek, ; Vlaeyen & Linton, ). Similarly, both pain severity and recovery expectations have been found to relate to disability outcomes including work limitations and functional disability (Allen, Hubbard, & Sullivan, ; Ebrahim et al., ; Harcombe, Samaranayaka, & Derrett, ; Iles, Davidson, & Taylor, ; Iles, Davidson, Taylor, & O'Halloran, ; Turner et al., ; Witt, Kenworthy, Isherwood, & Dunlop, ). Our study extends the previous research though by focusing on the mediating role of pain catastrophizing, wherein pain severity and recovery expectations are exerting their influence on the outcomes through their relationship with pain catastrophizing.…”

Therapeutic potential for leukocyte elastase in chronic pain states harboring a neuropathic component

“…The societal and financial burden of the neuropathic pain is enormous 4 , 27 , 49 and the identification of new therapeutic targets for the management of therapy-resistant neuropathic pain is a major current need. 50 Here, we report a high therapeutic potential of systemically administered LE inhibitors for the improvement of neuropathic pain associated phenotypes in preclinical mouse models and report on the cell types that constitute the source of LE in 2 distinct types of neuropathic pain.…”

“…Despite the increasing burden of neuropathic pain on human health and the economy, 9 , 36 , 49 the understanding of its underlying mechanisms is incomplete and available treatment options are suboptimal. 8 Neuropathic pain is an integral component of several other chronic pain conditions, such as cancer pain, 12 diabetic neuropathy, 39 pain caused by spinal cord injury, 18 amongst others, and requires novel therapeutic strategies.…”

Combined analysis of 3 cross-sectional surveys of pain in 14 countries in Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia: impact on physical and emotional aspects and quality of life

“…Pain is a health condition that substantially impacts quality of life (QOL) [1][2][3]. Chronic pain can negatively impact usual daily activities, employment, self-care, mobility, sleep, and mental health [3][4][5]. Patients with pain consume nearly twice the amount of healthcare resources as the general population [1].…”