Pain in thalassaemia: the effects of age on pain frequency and severity
Dru Haines, Marie Martin, Susan Carson, Olivia Oliveros, Sage Green, Thomas Coates, Jennifer Eile, Leann Schilling, Bogan Dinu, Tito Mendoza, Eric Gerstenberger, Felicia Trachtenberg, Elliott Vichinsky, Thalassemia Clinical Research Network, Ellis Neufeld, Jennifer Eile, Latoya Lashley, Leann Schilling, Bogden Dino, Dorothy Kleinert, Patricia Giardina, Alan Cohen, Janet Kwiatkowski, Marie Martin, Sage Green, Alexis Thompson, Janice Beatty, Diane Calamaras, Pauline Hess, Dru Haines, Olivia Oliveros, Elliott Vichinsky, Thomas Coates, Susan Carson, Ani Dongelyan, Tatiana Hernandez, Jennifer Kies, Nancy Oliveri, Cecilia Kim, Manuela Merelles-Pulcini, Kathryn Hassell, Sonja McKinlay, Lisa Virzi, Felicia Trachtenberg, Eric Gerstenberger, Dru Haines, Marie Martin, Susan Carson, Olivia Oliveros, Sage Green, Thomas Coates, Jennifer Eile, Leann Schilling, Bogan Dinu, Tito Mendoza, Eric Gerstenberger, Felicia Trachtenberg, Elliott Vichinsky, Thalassemia Clinical Research Network, Ellis Neufeld, Jennifer Eile, Latoya Lashley, Leann Schilling, Bogden Dino, Dorothy Kleinert, Patricia Giardina, Alan Cohen, Janet Kwiatkowski, Marie Martin, Sage Green, Alexis Thompson, Janice Beatty, Diane Calamaras, Pauline Hess, Dru Haines, Olivia Oliveros, Elliott Vichinsky, Thomas Coates, Susan Carson, Ani Dongelyan, Tatiana Hernandez, Jennifer Kies, Nancy Oliveri, Cecilia Kim, Manuela Merelles-Pulcini, Kathryn Hassell, Sonja McKinlay, Lisa Virzi, Felicia Trachtenberg, Eric Gerstenberger
Abstract
Pain is not a symptom generally associated with thalassaemia. However, providers have noted increasing patient reports of pain, creating an impetus for this prospective, observational assessment of pain in thalassaemia patients. The primary study goals were to assess pain prevalence, severity, location, and potential risk factors. This was a multicentre, prospective study of thalassaemia patients receiving care at 12 Thalassaemia Clinical Research Network sites. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory. Two hundred and fifty-two thalassaemia patients ranging in age from 12 to 71 years (mean 28.8) were enrolled. Sixty-four per cent reported experiencing pain during the last 4 weeks, 22% of whom reported pain on a daily basis. Ordinal regression analysis of pain ratings demonstrated significant (P < 0.001) correlation of increased age with increased pain, irrespective of diagnosis, transfusion status, gender, bone density, chelator type or iron overload. Eighty-one per cent reported having pain for 1 year or longer and 31% reported pain for five or more years. Pain is a major cause of morbidity and an unrecognized problem for patients with thalassaemia. Age is the strongest predictor of frequency and severity. Little else is known about the aetiology and predictors of this pain syndrome.
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Source: PubMed