Impact of neuropathic pain on quality of life in adults with sickle cell disease: observational study

Introduction: Knowledge on the characteristics of neuropathic pain in people with sickle cell disease (SCD) may help to provide more effective treatment procedures.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of neuropathic pain in patients with sickle cell disease and identify the impact on their quality of life.

Method: A cross-sectional study (CAAE 57274516.8.0000.5544) was conducted at a reference center in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The instruments used were the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Douleur Neuropatique Questionnaire (DN-4), the Anxiety and Depression Hospital scale (ADH) and the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization of Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-brief). The Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate the association between the scores (5% alpha).

Results: A total of 100 adults with SCD participated in the study, 69.7% of whom had neuropathic pain. Anxiety was present in 99% of the sample and depression, in 100%. Patients with neuropathic pain had worse scores in all domains of quality of life (p < 0.05), but no association was found with pain intensity.

Conclusion: Neuropathic pain was more frequent than nociceptive pain in adults with SCD and generated worse scores in all domains of quality of life. Anxiety and depression were present in patients with both types of pain.