Evolution of patients with chronic pain undergoing standard treatment: a prospective longitudinal follow-up study
Evolução de pacientes com dor crônica em tratamento padrão: um estudo prospectivo de seguimento longitudinal
Camila Cavalcante Castro, Sandro Max C. Silva, Martha Moreira C. Castro, Durval Campos Kraychete, Carla Daltro
Abstract
Background
Chronic pain greatly affects quality of life and, consequently, impacts the psychological state, a condition that needs to be addressed. A 30% reduction in pain intensity is clinically significant. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and psychological aspects of individuals with chronic pain undergoing standard treatment.
Methods
Descriptive longitudinal study involving individuals with chronic pain undergoing treatment at the Pain Outpatient Clinic of the Federal University of Bahia, in Salvador, Bahia, between June 2016 and December 2017. The variables studied were pain intensity, quality of life, sleep disorders, stress level, and the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms. Descriptive statistics were performed, and Student’s t-test, and Fisher’s Chi-Square test were used to compare the groups.
Results
We studied 134 individuals with a mean (standard deviation) age of 50 (10) years, 89.6% of whom were female. There was an improvement in quality of life and sleep, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and 58.2% of patients showed a 30% reduction in pain intensity. Among the factors associated with pain reduction, having a partner was a significant factor (73.7% vs. 52.1%; p = 0.030). However, symptoms of anxiety (81.6% vs. 75.0%; p = 0.436), symptoms of depression (63.2% vs. 58.3%; p = 0.718), and stress (92.1% vs. 87.5%; p = 0.846) were not associated with pain reduction.
Conclusion
This study suggests that multidisciplinary treatment can reduce pain intensity in chronically affected patients, as most patients exhibited a clinically significant response, accompanied by global improvement.
Keywords
Resumo
Introdução
A dor crônica afeta profundamente a qualidade de vida e, consequentemente, impacta o estado psicológico, uma condição que precisa ser abordada. Uma redução de 30% na intensidade da dor é clinicamente significativa. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever os aspectos clínicos e psicológicos de indivíduos com dor crônica em tratamento padrão.
Métodos
Estudo longitudinal descritivo envolvendo indivíduos com dor crônica em tratamento no Ambulatório de Dor da Universidade Federal da Bahia, em Salvador, Bahia, entre junho de 2016 e dezembro de 2017. As variáveis estudadas foram intensidade da dor, qualidade de vida, distúrbios do sono, nível de estresse e presença de sintomas de ansiedade e depressão. Foram realizadas estatísticas descritivas, e o teste t de Student e o teste do qui-quadrado de Fisher foram utilizados para comparar os grupos.
Resultados
Foram estudados 134 indivíduos com média (desvio-padrão) de idade de 50 (10) anos, dos quais 89,6% eram mulheres. Houve melhora na qualidade de vida e no sono, nos sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, e 58,2% dos pacientes apresentaram redução de 30% na intensidade da dor. Entre os fatores associados à redução da dor, ter um parceiro foi um fator significativo (73,7% vs. 52,1%; p = 0,030). No entanto, sintomas de ansiedade (81,6% vs. 75,0%; p = 0,436), sintomas de depressão (63,2% vs. 58,3%; p = 0,718) e estresse (92,1% vs. 87,5%; p = 0,846) não foram associados à redução da dor.
Conclusion
Este estudo sugere que o tratamento multidisciplinar pode reduzir a intensidade da dor em pacientes acometidos cronicamente, já que a maioria apresentou resposta clinicamente significativa, acompanhada de melhora global.
Palavras-chave
Referencias
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Submitted date:
19/03/2025
Accepted date:
23/10/2025
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