Study to Evaluate the Profile of Patients Attending Pain Units in Spanish Hospitals for the First Time (PANDHORA Study)

Abstract

SUMMARY Aim: To define the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients attending the pain unit for the first time. Patients & methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological survey of 823 patients included by 165 physicians from 107 pain units in Spanish hospitals. Results: Mean ± standard deviation age was 59 ± 15.1 years; 66.4% were women. The referring clinicians were orthopedic specialists (35.1% of patients) and general practitioners (24.9% of patients). Mean pain intensity (visual numeric scale) was 7 ± 1.8 points. Pain lasted 3–12 months in 33.7% of patients. Pain was noncancer-related in 96.3% and musculoskeletal-based in 68.6% and affected mainly the lumbar area (55.3%) and the lower limbs (40.8%). On their first visit, 7.8% of patients had not received analgesics, whereas 55.2% were taking NSAIDs, 45.1% paracetamol, 31.6% weak opioids and 15.7% strong opioids. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain was predominantly chronic, long-lasting, lumbar and more common in women. NSAIDs are the drugs most commonly prescribed by referring clinicians. Before attending the pain unit, strong opioids and antiepileptic drugs are used much less frequently.

Acknowledgement

The authors are indebted to the investigators from the 107 Spanish pain units who participated in the PANDHORA study.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was sponsored by MEDA PHARMA and carried out by the Musculoskeletal Pain Group of the Spanish Pain Society. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Editorial assistance was provided by Content Ed Net Madrid.

Additional information

Funding

This study was sponsored by MEDA PHARMA and carried out by the Musculoskeletal Pain Group of the Spanish Pain Society. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Editorial assistance was provided by Content Ed Net Madrid.