ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Neuropathic pain is defined as a pain initiated or caused by a lesion or dysfunction in the nervous system. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence and incidence of neuropathic pain in hospital neurology units and primary care centres, to characterize the clinical profile of the patient with neuropathic pain and to know the most frequent treatments in the pharmacological management of this type of pain. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional epidemiological survey carried out in 36 Neurology Units of the national territory (24 primary care centres and 12 hospitals). During 20 consecutive days neurologists collected the diagnoses of all the attended patients by any reason, up to 30 patients/day. In parallel the 20 first consecutive patients with neuropathic pain were chosen for their characterization in depth by means of a specific questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 12,688 patients were attended and a total of 13,555 diagnoses were collected through 713 consultation days. The most frequent diagnosis was migraine/cephalea, with a prevalence of 23.40% (95% CI: 22.66%-24.14%). Neuropathic pain represented the eighth more frequent diagnosis, with a prevalence in neurology units of 3.88% (95% CI: 3.54%- 4.22%). The prevalence of neuropathic pain was 2.92% in primary care centres and 6.09% in hospital units (p < 0.01). The daily incidence of new neuropathic pain cases was 1.24% (95% CI: 1.05%-1.53%); 1.14% in primary care neurology centres and 1.45% in hospital units. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained indicate that neuropathic pain is the eighth more frequent diagnosis in the neurology units. Medical assistance request by neuropathic pain is higher in the hospital units.
Subject(s)
Hospital Units , Neurology , Pain , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Epidemiologic Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain/classification , Pain/diagnosis , Pain/epidemiology , Pain/physiopathology , Primary Health Care , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Introducción. El dolor neuropático (DNP) se define como un dolor iniciado o causado por una lesión o disfunción del sistema nervioso. Los objetivos del estudio fueron estimar la prevalencia e incidencia de DNP en consultas de neurología hospitalarias y extrahospitalarias, caracterizar el perfil del paciente con DNP y conocer los tratamientos más utilizados en el manejo farmacológico de este tipo de dolor. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio observacional, epidemiológico y transversal, en 36 consultas de neurología del territorio nacional (24 extrahospitalarias y 12 hospitalarias). Durante 20 días consecutivos se recogieron los diagnósticos de los pacientes que acudieron a consulta por cualquier motivo, hasta un máximo de 30 pacientes/día. Paralelamente se eligieron los primeros 20 pacientes consecutivos que presentaban DNP, para su caracterización en profundidad mediante un cuestionario específico. Resultados. Se recogieron 13.555 diagnósticos de un total de 12.688 pacientes atendidos en 713 días de consulta. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue migrañas/cefaleas, con una prevalencia del 23,40% (IC 95%: 22,66-24,14%). El DNP representó el octavo diagnóstico más frecuente, con una prevalencia en consultas de neurología del 3,88 % (lC 95 %: 3,544,22%). La prevalencia de DNP fue del 2,92 % en consultas extrahospitalarias y del 6,09 % en consultas hospitalarias (p < 0,01). La incidencia diaria de casos nuevos de DNP se situó en el 1,24% (lC 95%: 1,05-1,53 %); 1,14% en consultas de neurología extrahospitalarias y 1,45% en consultas hospitalarias. Conclusiones. Los datos obtenidos indican que el DNP es el octavo diagnóstico más frecuente en las consultas de neurología. La demanda asistencial por DNP es más elevada en las consultas hospitalarias
Introduction. Neuropathic pain is defined as a pain initiated or caused by a lesion or dysfunction in the nervous system. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence and incidence of neuropathic pain in hospital neurology units and primary care centres, to characterize the clinical profile of the patient with neuropathic pain and to know the most frequent treatments in the pharmacological management of this type of pain. Methods. Observational, cross-sectional epidemiological survey carried out in 36 Neurology Units of the national territory (24 primary care centres and 12 hospitals). During 20 consecutive days neurologists collected the diagnoses of all the attended patients by any reason, up to 30 patients/day. In parallel the 20 first consecutive patients with neuropathic pain were chosen for their characterization in depth by means of a specific questionnaire. Results. A total of 12,688 patients were attended and a total of 13,555 diagnoses were collected through 713 consultation days. The most frequent diagnosis was migraine/cephalea, with a prevalence of 23.40 % (95 % Cl: 22.66 %-24.14 %). Neuropathic pain represented the eighth more frequent diagnosis, with a prevalence in neurology units of 3.88 O/o (95 % CI: 3.540/04.22 %). The prevalence of neuropathic pain was 2.92 % in primary care centres and 6.09 % in hospital units (p < 0.01). The daily incidence of new neuropathic pain cases was 1.24 % (95 % CI: 1.05 %-1.53 %); 1.14 % in primary care neurology centres and 1.45 % in hospital units. Conclusions. The data obtained indicate that neuropathic pain is the eighth more frequent diagnosis in the neurology units. Medical assistance request by neuropathic pain is higher in the hospital units
