Neuropathic Pain Clinical and epidemiological characteristics

Abstract

Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain of multicausal origin As a recent recognition symprom, its epidemiologic profile has not been defined yet. In order to describe the most important clinical characteristics ofthe patients with neuropathic pain at the Pain Clinical the Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana (CUB) during the last tive years, 1120 medical charts were reviewed from which 369 with diagnosis of neuropathic pain were selected. A slight predominance of the l'emale gender (52%) and an age average of 46 years was found for both groups. The trauma was the most frequent cause of neuropathic pain in people younger than 40 years; meanwhile, in older than 60 years, the postherpetic neuralgia was the most frequent cause. In men, the most frequent cause was the violence and in women was the idiopathic cause. Most of the patients have had several treatments, most commonly used where both analgesic and antidepressants. Only 46% had any psycho-social intervention. Ir was concluded that it is necessary ro develop new research on this topic in our country, Since this is a symptom that affects all the groups of age, specially those in productive age it is necessary ro cll the attention of the staff with the aim of give to the neuropathic pain importance that it deserves and an adequate psycho-social approach as well as a right pharmacologic management.