Características epidemiológicas e clínicas de pacientes com dor crônica oriundos da atenção primária: experiência de um hospital universitário em um país em desenvolvimento

Abstract

Chronic pain is a health problem with a significant impact on quality of life. However, in developing countries, epidemiological studies on chronic pain in primary care services are scarce. This study aimed to describe the profile of patients with chronic pain referred from primary care to Pedro Ernesto University Hospital (HUPE, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil). Data from 906 adult patients with non-cancer chronic pain were analyzed during their first visit to the HUPE pain center throughout 2019. The Brief Pain Inventory (BDI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) assessed the intensity of pain and its impact on daily activity and mood disorder, respectively. The population was predominantly female (68.8%), over fifty years old (66.3%), with less than 11 years of schooling (86.5%), overweight or obese (75.2%). Generalized pain was present in 43.6% of patients. In addition, 81.9% of the sample referred to pain as moderate or severe, with high interference in daily activities (>50%). The most affected site was the lumbar region, followed by the lower limbs (79.2%), upper limbs (56.1%) and cervical spine (43.4%). A high proportion of the study population had an HAD score > 9 for anxiety (67.4%) and depression (52.2%). Patients with severe pain were predominantly middle-aged women (77%) and individuals with high levels of anxiety and depression. Pain intensity was also associated with anxiety and depression. The biopsychosocial characteristics associated with chronic pain show the importance of directing prevention and care policies that include a multidisciplinary approach to provide more accurate and efficient assessment and treatment.