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. 2024 Mar-Apr;32(2):155-163.
doi: 10.1111/wrr.13153. Epub 2024 Jan 23.

Prevalence and characteristics of pain in patients with lower-extremity ulcers-A cross-sectional study

Lubna Sabah  1 , Ewa Anna Burian  1 , Klaus Kirketerp-Møller  1 , Simon Francis Thomsen  1   2 , Finn Borgbjerg Moltke  1
Affiliations

Prevalence and characteristics of pain in patients with lower-extremity ulcers-A cross-sectional study

Lubna Sabah et al. Wound Repair Regen. 2024 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of pain in different ulcer types and to identify factors associated with pain experience in patients with lower-extremity ulcers. A cross-sectional single-centre study was performed, including 130 newly referred outpatients with lower-extremity ulcers. Pain intensity was measured with a visual analog scale (VAS) and pain characteristics with the short form mcgill pain questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2). The mean pain intensity was 29.5 (SD 31.8) at rest and 35.5 (SD 34.1) during movement (0-100 VAS). 61.5% of the patients experienced pain (VAS > 0) at rest and 70.8% during movement. Moderate to severe pain at rest was seen in 39.2% and in 43.8% of patients during movement. The mean total score on SF-MPQ-2 (range 0-220) was 35.9 (SD 32.6). Most of the patients described pain as intermittent (mean 11.8 SD 13.9). Analgesics were prescribed for 78% of the patients. Ulcer type (i.e., arterial, immunological, pressure and venous) and age were associated with pain severity, and women had a significantly lower well-being score than men. Prevalence of pain in patients with lower-extremity ulcers was high across different ulcer aetiologies. Pain intensity and quality must be assessed to obtain adequate pain management.

Keywords: analgesics; lower-extremity ulcers; pain; questionnaire.

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References

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