Factors associated with and impact of pain persistence in Asian patients with depression: a 3-month, prospective observational study

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the depression outcomes and the factors associated with pain persistence in Asian patients treated for major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: This observational study enrolled 909 Asian adult inpatients and outpatients. The presence or absence of painful physical symptoms and severity of depression were assessed at baseline and after three months of treatment. Factors associated with pain persistence and outcome of depression were investigated using regression methods.

Results: Of the 909 patients enrolled, 684 were included in the analysis and evaluated at three months. Of them, 335 (49%) had no pain at baseline nor follow up, 198 (29%) at baseline but not at follow up and 151 (22%) in both assessments. Pain more frequently persisted in patients who were divorced/widowed/separated, with >1 comorbidity, aged <40 years, with previous MDD episodes, taking pain medications, and with greater depression severity. At three months, response/remission were 84%/73% in the no pain group, 83%/63% in the remitted pain group and 46%/25% in the persistent pain group (differences all p < .0001; all bivariate comparisons were statistically significant with p < .05 except response between no pain and remitted pain). Persistent pain was also associated with less improvement in quality of life and health state.

Conclusions: Pain should be taken into account when diagnosing MDD and when tailoring therapy.

Keywords:

• Pain
• major depressive disorder
• quality of life
• Asia
• disease progression

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the investigators and patients in the study, and Sarah Smith PhD, for editorial assistance.

Disclosure statement

Diego Novick, William Montgomery, ZbigniewKadziola and Xiaomei Peng are employees of Eli Lilly and Company. Jaume Aguado conducted the statistical analysis under a contract of FundacióSant Joan de Déu with Eli Lilly and Company. Josep Maria Haro has acted as consultant or speaker for Astra-Zeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Lundbeck and Roche.

Additional information

Funding

This study [FIJ-AA-B015] was funded by Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, USA [10.13039/100004312].