Investigation of the Characteristics of Chronic Pain Developing After COVID-19

Investigation of the Characteristics of Chronic Pain Developing After COVID-19 in Patients With COVID-19

Data on pain after COVID-19 were generally collected from hospitalized patients and only include information on acute pain conditions. However, the characteristics of the chronic pain experienced after COVID-19 are unknown. For this reason, the treatment and recommendations for patients who present with chronic pain after COVID-19 are not clear. Our goal is to determine the characteristics and risk factors of chronic pain developing in COVID-19 patients and to create specific treatment recommendations for these patient groups with further studies.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Covid19; Chronic Pain; Coronavirus

Detailed Description

Data on pain developing after COVID-19 were generally collected from hospitalized patients and only include information on acute pain conditions seen after the ilness. It is noteworthy that headache and musculoskeletal pain were seen common in first few weeks. However, the characteristics (mechanical, inflammatory, central sensitization, anxiety-related, etc.) of the chronic pain experienced are unknown. For this reason, the treatment and recommendations for patients who present with chronic pain after COVID-19 are not clear. Our goal is to determine the characteristics and risk factors of chronic pain developing in COVID-19 patients and to create specific treatment recommendations for these patient groups with further studies.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 776

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • İstanbul, Turkey, 34093
    • Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

1120 patients who had previously suffered from COVID-19 disease will be included in the study upon application to physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinics with pain complaints developed after COVID-19.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Being over the age of 18
2. SARS-CoV-2 infection demonstrated with the PCR test (testing date irrelevant)
3. Pain developed or increased after having COVID-19

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Mental retardation or mental status not eligible to answer the questionnaires

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Self-Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms & Signs (S-LANSS) Pain Score	The S-LANSS aims to identify pain of predominantly neuropathic origin, as distinct from nociceptive pain, without the need for clinical examination.	up to 1 year
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Score	The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a self-assessment questionnaire that has been found to be a reliable instrument for detecting states of anxiety and depression in the setting of hospital outpatient clinic. The HADS questionnaire has seven items each for depression and anxiety subscales.	up to 1 year
Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI)	The Central Sensitisation Inventory (CSI) is a self-report outcome measure designed to identify patients who have symptoms that may be related to central sensitisation (CS) or central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) such as fibromyalgia, neck injury, temporomandibular joint disorder or migraine/tension headaches. CSI includes 25 questions related to common CSS symptoms.	up to 1 year
Self-report Demographic Questionnaire	A questionnaire made by the researchers to understand the demographic characteristics of the patients included.	up to 1 year
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain	The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" and "worst pain."	up to 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul University
• Investigators: Study Director: Ayşegül Ketenci, Professor, Professor; Principal Investigator: Mert Zure, Expert, MD

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, Woodland L, Wessely S, Greenberg N, Rubin GJ. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet. 2020 Mar 14;395(10227):912-920. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8. Epub 2020 Feb 26.
• Eccles R. Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005 Nov;5(11):718-25. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70270-X.
• Ding Y, He L, Zhang Q, Huang Z, Che X, Hou J, Wang H, Shen H, Qiu L, Li Z, Geng J, Cai J, Han H, Li X, Kang W, Weng D, Liang P, Jiang S. Organ distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in SARS patients: implications for pathogenesis and virus transmission pathways. J Pathol. 2004 Jun;203(2):622-30. doi: 10.1002/path.1560.
• Weng LM, Su X, Wang XQ. Pain Symptoms in Patients with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): A Literature Review. J Pain Res. 2021 Jan 26;14:147-159. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S269206. eCollection 2021.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 24, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 9, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 10, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 12, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 19, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Chronic Pain; COVID19; Characteristics
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; COVID-19; Chronic Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021/389

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No