Prevalence and characteristics of pain in patients awaiting lung transplantation

Pain in patients awaiting lung transplantation is not well known.

This study prospectively investigated prevalence and characteristics of pain in these patients.

Assessment, undertaken at the time of registration, comprised an interview, a physical examination by a pain-qualified anesthesiologist, and a questionnaire completed by the patient and investigator. This questionnaire included evaluation of pain (intensity, location, sensory and affective qualifications, and treatment), detection of neuropathic pain, and assessment of anxiety and depression. A patient was considered "with pain" when at least one of the following criteria was met: 1) positive answer to the question "Do you suffer regularly from pain?" and 2) score greater than 3 on at least one of three numeric pain scales (current, maximal, and average during the last eight days) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most severe pain imaginable).

One hundred forty-three patients were enrolled. Prevalence of pain was 59%. Three independent variables were correlated to the magnitude of the average pain score for the preceding eight days: female gender (P = 0.003), cystic fibrosis (P = 0.02), and depression score (P = 0.02). Among the pain patients, 39% took analgesic drugs daily and 36% regularly but less than daily; 2% used opioids. Nineteen percent used nonpharmacological strategies (e.g., hypnosis, relaxation).

This study highlights the prevalence of pain in this population and specific problems associated with pain such as anxiety and depression. Appropriate assessment and treatment of pain should be considered a component of pretransplantation management.