Shinsuke Harada1, Fumihiko Tamura2, Shuhei Ota2. 1. Department of Palliative Medicine, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Kanagawa, Japan b4yokohama@yahoo.co.jp. 2. Department of Palliative Medicine, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with cancer receiving palliative care. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, terminally ill patients with cancer having NP were identified by a pain management clinician using the diagnostic algorithm of NP from the International Association for the Study of Pain on the day of admission. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients who were hospitalized in the palliative care unit were enrolled in this study. The median survival times were 21.5 days (range, 0-173 days), and 57.7% of patients were male. Among the 220 patients, 41 (18.6%; 95% confidence interval, 13.5%-23.8%) developed NP. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NP in terminally ill patients with cancer in Japanese palliative care units was 18.6%.
OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with cancer receiving palliative care. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, terminally ill patients with cancer having NP were identified by a pain management clinician using the diagnostic algorithm of NP from the International Association for the Study of Pain on the day of admission. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients who were hospitalized in the palliative care unit were enrolled in this study. The median survival times were 21.5 days (range, 0-173 days), and 57.7% of patients were male. Among the 220 patients, 41 (18.6%; 95% confidence interval, 13.5%-23.8%) developed NP. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NP in terminally ill patients with cancer in Japanese palliative care units was 18.6%.