Prevalence, Causes, and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain in Dutch Nursing Home Residents:: A Retrospective Chart Review

• Autores: Esther G. P. van Kollenburg, Jan C. M. Lavrijsen, Stans C. Verhagen, Sytse U. Zuidema, Annelies Schalkwijk, Kris C. P. Vissers
• Localización: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, ISSN 0002-8614, Vol. 60, Nº. 8, 2012, págs. 1418-1425
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objectives: To identify the prevalence and causes of neuropathic pain in Dutch nursing home residents; to establish the prevalence of painful and nonpainful diabetic polyneuropathy in a subsample of individuals with diabetes mellitus and central poststroke pain (CPSP) in a subsample of individuals who had a stroke; and to study the prescription of antineuropathic drugs.

    Design: A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted by analyzing medical records.

    Setting: Data were collected in 12 Dutch nursing homes.

    Participants: The data were derived from the medical records of 497 residents of chronic long-term stay and rehabilitation nursing home units.

    Measurements: Four groups were defined: actual (at some time in the previous year) neuropathic pain (ANP), possible neuropathic pain (PNP), neuropathic pain in the past (NPP), and no signs of neuropathic pain (NoNP).

    Results: The prevalence of ANP was 10.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.4¿13.8%) and of PNP was 5.6% (95% CI = 3.9¿7.9%). The most common causes were CPSP and phantom limb pain. In the subgroup with diabetes mellitus, 6.3% had nonpainful diabetic polyneuropathy, 0.7% had painful diabetic polyneuropathy, and 0.7% had possible painful diabetic polyneuropathy. In the poststroke subsample, 4.7% were identified as having CPSP, and 5.2% were identified as possibly having CPSP. Within the ANP group, 68.5% of the residents received antineuropathic drugs on the day the medical records were examined; 48.1% used anticonvulsants.

    Conclusion: Dutch nursing home residents frequently experience neuropathic pain; therefore, neuropathic pain should receive more attention in frail elderly adults.