Clinical Study on Chronic Pain in Parkinson's Disease Patients in Shanghai, China

Background/Aims: Pain in Parkinson's disease (PD) may be more distressing than that in other nonmotor disabilities. The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence and identify the epidemiological characteristics of PD-related pain among patients with idiopathic PD in Shanghai, China. Methods: A total of 1,058 patients with definite idiopathic PD were investigated using a structure questionnaire in 12 hospitals in Shanghai. The severity of their motor disorders, antiparkinson treatments, and pain-related observations, such as time points for the onset of pain, duration and degree, body localization, external influences, and treatments for pain, were collected for analysis. Results: Approximately 28% (296 subjects) of all PD patients suffered from PD-related pain. Female patients with pain had a higher age level, were older at PD onset, had a higher frequency of pain, a higher frequency of pain before the onset of PD symptoms, a longer duration of pain, and a higher incidence of pain in the early stage compared to male patients. Larger levodopa-equivalent doses, higher frequencies of sleep disorders and/or motor fluctuation, and/or dyskinesia were found in patients with pain compared to patients without pain. The most frequent pain type was musculoskeletal pain followed by dystonia. The male group had a much shorter pain duration than the female group. The patients experienced more pain before taking antiparkinson drugs compared to after treatment. Conclusion: Chronic PD-related pain is a frequent complaint and complex in PD. The challenge of managing pain in PD patients will hopefully someday result in specific and effective treatment strategies. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel