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ARE SELF-REPORTED PAIN CHARACTERISTICS, CLASSIFIED USING THE PAINDETECT QUESTIONNAIRE, PREDICTIVE OF OUTCOME IN PEOPLE WITH LOW BACK PAIN AND ASSOCIATED LEG PAIN?

The 27th annual ACM SI/GUCCS conference



Abstract

Purpose of study and background

This study aimed to investigate if the PD-Q classification was predictive of outcomes at 3 and 12-months follow-up in LBP patients with associated leg pain.

Identification of clinically important subgroups and targeted treatment is believed to be important in low back pain (LBP) care. The PainDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q) is designed to classify whether a person has neuropathic pain, based on their self-reported pain characteristics. However, it is unknown whether this classification is a prognostic factor and/or predicts treatment response.

Method and results

145 participants were recruited in secondary care. Inclusion criteria were 3-12 months LBP and leg pain. Baseline PD-Q scores classified participants into three groups (likely to have neuropathic pain, uncertain, unlikely) but did not affect treatment decisions. The outcome measures were LBP, leg pain, activity limitation and self-reported general health. Scores were compared between those with ‘likely’ neuropathic pain (neuropathic group) and ‘unlikely’ (non-neuropathic group), using Mann-Whitney, Friedman and Chi Square tests.

At baseline, the neuropathic group had worse scores on all outcome measures, and analgesic use, sick leave, sense of coherence and psychological profile (p=.000 to .044). At 3-months and 12-months both groups improved (p=.001 to .032). However, the groups remained different at each time point on all outcome measures (p=.000 to .033) except LBP (p=.054 to .214).

Conclusions

The PD-Q classification was a prognostic factor but was not predictive of response to generic care. Further studies should investigate whether PD-Q groups are predictive of response to neuropathic pain targeted treatment.

Conflicts of interest: None

Sources of funding: None