Prevalence and impact of pain in neurological inpatients of a German teaching hospital

Abstract

Objectives: The authors sought to determine the prevalence of pain among neurological inpatients and the impact of pain on psychological and social variables depending on severity and chronicity of pain.

Patients and methods: 400 consecutive newly referred inpatients to a neurological department who were 18 years and older and able to speak German were asked to complete a self-administered epidemiological questionnaire containing demographics and socioeconomics, pain variables, health care utilization, screening for depression and anxiety, habitual well-being, and health-related quality of life.

Results: 320 patients (80%) complained of pain in the past 3 months. 43% showed higher pain severity -- mirroring severely disabling pain with additionally moderate to high interferences with daily activities. Two-thirds of the neurological patients suffering from pain have to be considered "chronic pain patients". Pain patients had significantly higher depression scores, bodily complaints, more severe disabilities and lower well-being scores compared to patients without pain.

Conclusion: This study documents a high prevalence of pain with high grades of pain severity and chronicity in neurological inpatients. Pain presents a major problem as a secondary comorbid condition among neurological inpatients.