Characterizing neuropathic pain profiles: enriching interpretation of painDETECT

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics

Characteristic	Value (N=624)
Age (years), mean (SD)	55.5 (13.7)
Sex, n (%)
Male	346 (55.4)
Female	278 (44.6)
Race, n (%)
American Indian or Alaska Native	9 (1.4)
Asian	5 (0.8)
Black or African-American	100 (16.0)
White	448 (71.8)
Multiracial	11 (1.8)
Other	40 (6.4)
Missing	11 (1.8)
Time since NeP diagnosis (months), mean (SD)	93.9 (81.8)
Number of comorbid conditions	3.2 (2.1)
painDETECT score, mean (SD)a
Nine-item version	20.4 (7.1)
Seven-item version	19.2 (6.8)

Note:

a painDETECT scores were available for 606 subjects for the nine-item version and 615 subjects for the seven-item version.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; NeP, neuropathic pain.

Figure 1 Probability of experiencing at least a moderate sensation by painDETECT score on the nine-item version.

Figure 2 Probability of experiencing at least a moderate sensation by painDETECT score on the seven-item version.

Table 2 Pain symptom probability profiles for painDETECT total score by five-point intervals

Pain sensory symptom	Probability of at least a moderate sensation by total score (%)
	5	10	15	20	25	30	35
Nine item
Burning	14.4	34.5	62.2	83.8	94.2	98.1	99.4
Numbness	14.7	32.5	57.4	79.0	91.3	96.7	98.8
Tingling/prickling	7.5	26.3	61.0	87.2	96.8	99.2	99.8
Sudden pain attacks/electric shock-type pain	7.9	21.3	4.6	73.0	89.5	96.4	98.8
Slight pressure	4.6	12.4	29.2	54.6	77.9	91.1	96.8
Light touching	0.6	2.4	9.0	28.4	61.6	86.6	96.3
Cold/heat	0.5	1.9	7.4	24.3	56.3	83.8	95.4
Seven item
Burning	14.4	37.2	67.6	88.0	96.3	98.9	99.7
Numbness	14.9	35.0	62.4	83.6	94.0	98.0	99.3
Tingling/prickling	7.7	29.5	68.0	91.5	98.2	99.6	99.9
Sudden pain attacks/electric shock-type pain	8.2	23.6	51.6	78.7	92.8	97.8	99.4
Slight pressure	5.1	14.4	34.2	61.7	83.3	93.9	98.0
Light touching	0.5	2.5	10.7	36.2	72.8	92.7	98.4
Cold/heat	0.6	2.3	9.4	31.1	66.1	89.4	97.3

Table 3 Odds ratios of experiencing at least a moderate sensation for increases in painDETECT score

Pain sensory symptom	Odds ratio estimate (95% confidence interval)
	1-point increase	5-point increase	10-point increase
Nine item
Burning	1.26 (1.21, 1.31)	3.13 (2.56, 3.90)	9.79 (6.53, 15.23)
Numbness	1.23 (1.18, 1.28)	2.79 (2.32, 3.41)	7.79 (5.39, 11.62)
Tingling/prickling	1.34 (1.28, 1.42)	4.38 (3.42, 5.77)	19.18 (11.68, 33.27)
Sudden pain attacks/electric shock-type pain	1.26 (1.21, 1.31)	3.16 (2.61, 3.90)	9.99 (6.79, 15.18)
Slight pressure	1.24 (1.20, 1.29)	2.92 (2.44, 3.54)	8.53 (5.97, 12.56)
Light touching	1.32 (1.27, 1.39)	4.04 (3.23, 5.16)	16.32 (10.45, 26.60)
Cold/heat	1.32 (1.26, 1.39)	4.02 (3.21, 5.15)	16.17 (10.32, 26.51)
Seven item
Burning	1.29 (1.23, 1.35)	3.52 (2.83, 4.48)	12.42 (8.01, 20.08)
Numbness	1.25 (1.20, 1.31)	3.08 (2.53, 3.82)	9.50 (6.39, 14.60)
Tingling/prickling	1.38 (1.31, 1.47)	5.06 (3.86, 6.84)	25.60 (14.91, 46.80)
Sudden pain attacks/electric shock-type pain	1.28 (1.23, 1.34)	3.47 (2.82, 4.34)	12.02 (7.97, 18.82)
Slight pressure	1.25 (1.21, 1.31)	3.10 (2.57, 3.80)	9.62 (6.62, 14.42)
Light touching	1.36 (1.30, 1.44)	4.72 (3.71, 6.17)	22.31 (13.74, 38.03)
Cold/heat	1.34 (1.28, 1.41)	4.33 (3.43, 5.60)	18.76 (11.74, 31.36)