Pain types and risk factors in post-COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Pain Medicine
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Post-COVID-19 condition affects a significant number of individuals after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Chronic pain is a common and debilitating symptom experienced by patients with post-COVID-19 condition.
• Understanding the diverse pain mechanisms is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the types of chronic pain (nociceptive, neuropathic, central sensitization) in patients with post-COVID-19 condition.
• To identify risk factors associated with different pain phenotypes.
• To inform the development of diagnostic and treatment algorithms for post-COVID-19 pain.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 437 patients diagnosed with post-COVID-19 condition were evaluated between March and December 2021.
• Patients were classified into nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, or central sensitization groups based on clinical assessment and validated questionnaires (S-LANSS, Central Sensitization Inventory).
• Risk factors including demographics, comorbidities, and pain characteristics were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Nociceptive pain was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by central sensitization.
• Patients with nociceptive pain reported less severe pain.
• Risk factors for central sensitization included irregular exercise, chronic disease, and female sex. Risk factors for neuropathic pain included pre-existing thyroid disease and reporting very severe pain.

Conclusions:

• Post-COVID-19 pain evaluation should include nociceptive, neuropathic, and central sensitization mechanisms.
• Assessing pain severity, systemic diseases, and physical activity levels is essential for comprehensive patient care.
• Further research is needed to develop targeted diagnostic and treatment strategies.