Epidemiology of physician-diagnosed neuropathic pain in Brazil

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic characteristics for the total and NeP sample

Characteristics	All patients	NeP participants	NeP participants with subtype known
Categorical variables
N	2,118	307	209
Sex
Female	1,597 (75.4%)	247 (80.5%)	162 (77.6%)
Ethnic background
White (Branco)	437 (20.6%)	83 (27.0%)	55 (26.3%)
Black (Preto)	106 (5.0%)	63 (20.7%)	47 (22.5%)
Yellow (Amarelo)	4 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)
Brown (Pardo)	648 (30.6%)	136 (44.3%)	92 (44.0%)
Native (Indigena)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (1.0%)
Employment
Full-time, part-time, self-employed		96 (31.9%)	58 (28.2%)
Household income
>$3,067.41		16 (5.2%)	11 (5.3%)
$2,352.90 to $3,067.41		15 (4.9%)	8 (3.8%)
$545.82 to $2,352.89		69 (22.5%)	49 (23.4%)
$341.53 to $545.81		51 (16.6%)	31 (14.8%)
≤$341.52		133 (43.3%)	93 (44.5%)
Education
Primary incomplete		45 (14.7%)	28 (13.4%)
Primary school complete		12 (3.9%)	9 (4.3%)
Elementary incomplete		27 (8.8%)	21 (10.0%)
Elementary complete		14 (4.6%)	11 (5.3%)
High school incomplete		17 (5.5%)	13 (6.2%)
High school complete		89 (29.0%)	63 (30.1%)
Degree incomplete		21 (6.8%)	16 (7.7%)
Degree complete		53 (17.3%)	31 (14.8%)
Master/doctorate		9 (2.9%)	3 (1.4%)
Marital status
Married		148 (48.2%)	114 (54.5%)
Single, never married		62 (20.2%)	39 (18.7%)
Divorced		20 (6.5%)	6 (2.9%)
Separated		14 (4.6%)	8 (3.8%)
Widowed		25 (8.1%)	17 (8.1%)
Living with partner		16 (5.2%)	10 (4.8%)
Continuous variables
Age, mean (SD)	50.1 (16.3)	52.5 (13.9)	53.0 (14.3)

Notes: Due to missing data, numbers may not sum to 100%. Data for sex, ethnic background, and age were collected on all participants, whereas data on employment, household income, education, and marital status were only collected from patients with NeP.

Abbreviation: NeP, neuropathic pain.

Figure 1 Comorbid conditions reported by at least 10% of the patients diagnosed with NeP (n=209).

Notes: 95% CI values are displayed. Patients could be diagnosed with multiple subtypes; hence, totals add up to >100%.
Abbreviations: CLBP-NeP, chronic lower back pain with a neuropathic component; CNP, central neuropathic pain; pDPN, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy; GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; NeP, neuropathic pain; PSN, post-surgical neuropathic pain; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia; PTN, post-traumatic neuropathic pain.

Figure 2 NeP symptoms exhibited by physician-confirmed NeP patient during the examination.

Notes: 95% CI values are displayed. Totals reflect that patients could be diagnosed with multiple subtypes.
Abbreviations: CLBP-NeP, chronic lower back pain with a neuropathic component; CNP, central neuropathic pain; pDPN, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy; NeP, neuropathic pain; PSN, post-surgical neuropathic pain; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia; PTN, post-traumatic neuropathic pain.

Figure 3 Clinical features of NeP and the clinical profile of patients for each NeP subtype: medication use.

Notes: 95% CI values are displayed. Totals reflect that patients could be diagnosed with multiple subtypes.
Abbreviations: CLBP-NeP, chronic lower back pain with a neuropathic component; CNP, central neuropathic pain; pDPN, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy; NeP, neuropathic pain; PSN, post-surgical neuropathic pain; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia; PTN, post-traumatic neuropathic pain; SNRI, serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors; SSRI, serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor; TCA, tricyclic antidepressant.

Figure 4 Mean (95% CI) health status and economic burden of patients for each NeP subtype: EQ-5D.

Notes: Mean and 95% CI values are displayed. The Brazil population norms for the EQ-5D scales are overlaid on the figure (Health Utility 0.89; VAS 83.8).²⁸
Abbreviations: CLBP-NeP, chronic lower back pain with a neuropathic component; CNP, central neuropathic pain; pDPN, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy; NeP, neuropathic pain; PSN, post-surgical neuropathic pain; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia; PTN, post-traumatic neuropathic pain.

Figure 5 Mean (95% CI) health status and economic burden of patients for each NeP subtype: BPI.

Notes: Mean and 95% CI values are displayed.
Abbreviations: BPI, Brief Pain Inventory; CLBP-NeP, chronic lower back pain with a neuropathic component; CNP, central neuropathic pain; pDPN, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy; NeP, neuropathic pain; PSN, post-surgical neuropathic pain; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia; PTN, post-traumatic neuropathic pain.

Figure 6 Mean (95% CI) economic and activity burden for each NeP subtype: WPAI-SHP.

Notes: Mean and 95% CI values are displayed.
Abbreviations: CLBP-NeP, chronic lower back pain with a neuropathic component; CNP, central neuropathic pain; pDPN, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy; NeP, neuropathic pain; PSN, post-surgical neuropathic pain; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia; PTN, post-traumatic neuropathic pain; WPAI-SHP, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Specific Health Problem v2.0.

Rey-AresLKindPFernandezGSelf-reported population health based on EuroQol EQ-5D: population norms from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and UruguayValue Health2016193A282A283

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