Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Pain is a widely neglected symptom in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), even though it may be common and have a significant impact on the quality of life.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of pain and its treatment in ALS patients.
Design:
A multicenter cross-sectional study.
Setting/Subjects:
Eighty patients with ALS from eight hospitals.
Measurements:
Data on demographics, functional status, and pharmacological treatment were collected. The Barthel Index (BI) was used to assess functional status. Pain was measured using the 0–5-point Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale.
Results:
Pain was reported by 53.8% of ALS patients, and 36.3% reported receiving pain medication. Opioids were the drugs most commonly used to treat pain. The differences in pain frequency according to functional status were not statistically significant (p = 0.38). The pain intensity in patients whose functional status was total dependence (BI 0–20, 2.5 ± 1.2) was significantly worse than that in those with better functional status (BI 21–60, 1.4 ± 0.7; BI 61–99, 1.4 ± 0.5; p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Our study indicates that all patients with ALS have the potential to suffer from pain, the intensity of which increases with decreased functional status.
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