The Prevalence and Cross-Sectional Associations of Neuropathic-like Pain Among Older, Community-Dwelling Women with Arthritis

Abstract Objective. To estimate the prevalence and examine the associations of neuropathic-like pain in a community-based sample of older Australian women with arthritis. Design. Population based cross-sectional survey. Setting. Participants were recruited from the 1946-1951 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health. Subjects. Women with self-reported arthritis (n = 147). Methods. Primary outcome measure was self-reported neuropathic-like pain, defined as scores ≥12 via the painDETECT screening tool. Descriptive statistics summarized health and socio-demographic characteristics, and comparisons made using student’s t-test or Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, and Chi-square tests. Independent health and demographic variables were examined by univariable logistic regression, and significant variables included in multiple variable logistic regression modelling. Results. Thirty-nine women (26.5%) were screened as having neuropathic-like pain. Women with neuropathic-like pain were more likely to have poorer health, worse pain, higher pain catastrophizing, more fatigue, and more depression than women with nociceptive pain. Neuropathic-like pain was significantly associated with higher scores on the SF-MPQ sensory scale and pain catastrophizing scale, and with more medication use. Conclusions. Neuropathic-like pain in women with arthritis was common and is associated with greater disability and poorer quality of life.