Relationship between Pain and Functional Status in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Pain is a widely neglected symptom in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), even though it may be common and have a significant impact on the quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of pain and its treatment in ALS patients.

DESIGN

A multicenter cross-sectional study.

SETTING/SUBJECTS: Eighty patients with ALS from eight hospitals.

MEASUREMENTS

Data on demographics, functional status, and pharmacological treatment were collected. The Barthel Index (BI) was used to assess functional status. Pain was measured using the 0-5-point Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale.

RESULTS

Pain was reported by 53.8% of ALS patients, and 36.3% reported receiving pain medication. Opioids were the drugs most commonly used to treat pain. The differences in pain frequency according to functional status were not statistically significant (p = 0.38). The pain intensity in patients whose functional status was total dependence (BI 0-20, 2.5 ± 1.2) was significantly worse than that in those with better functional status (BI 21-60, 1.4 ± 0.7; BI 61-99, 1.4 ± 0.5; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that all patients with ALS have the potential to suffer from pain, the intensity of which increases with decreased functional status.