Differences in Experimental Pain Sensitivity Between Non-African and African American Healthy Individuals and...

Pancreatic Quantitative Sensory Testing (P-QST) is a neurosensory evaluation used to characterize pancreatic pain. Given racial differences in experimental pain sensitivity, it is crucial to investigate this phenomenon before widespread P-QST adoption. We aimed to study experimental pain sensitivity in African American (AA) vs non-AA individuals with no abdominal pain or known pancreatic disease (controls), and AA controls vs AA participants with chronic pancreatitis (CP).

In this cross-sectional, multi-center study, race was dichotomized (AA and non-AA) and was self-reported. Participants underwent P-QST testing assessing pressure pain detection threshold (pPDT), pressure tolerance threshold (pPTT), cold pressor endurance (CPE), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), temporal summation (TS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

A total of 157 AA and 110 non-AA control participants were tested, as well as 35 AA participants with CP. No differences in P-QST testing were seen between racial groups in control participants. Compared to AA controls, AA participants with CP showed signs of impaired CPM, significantly lower pPTTs and suggestion of lower pPDTs, as well as increased TS scores of the upper abdomen. The lower pPDTs and pPTTs and decreased CPM in AA CP participants compared to AA controls are consistent with findings in other racial groups.

No significant differences in experimental pain results were found between AA and non-AA controls. Alterations in experimental pain sensitivity appear to mainly accompany the CP disease state in the group of AA participants studied.