[Implementing a chronic pain ambulatory care: preliminary results]

Abstract

Background and objectives: Pain is one of the most common reason for seeking medical care. This study aimed to analyze patients with chronic pain in Maricá, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Methods: A transversal retrospective study with 200 patients, who were treated in ambulatory care in a public hospital from June 2014 to December 2015. The variables considered were: pain intensity, type of pain, anatomical location, diagnosis and treatment. The data were statistically analyzed, the Fisher's exact test was applied, and the probability p was significant when ≤0.05.

Results: We analyzed 200 patients with chronic pain, most of them female (83%). Mean age was 58.6 ± 13.01 years old. The patients were classified in groups by age, six groups with ten years of difference between them. Main age range was the 50-59 years old group, with 49 females (32%) and 5 males (15%). About 65.5% of the total of patients (131) had severe pain (Numeric Rating Sacale was 9.01). Mixed pain was predominant, affecting 108 patients (92 females and 16 males, what represents 55% and 47% of the total of females and males, respectively, that participate in the study). The most prevalent anatomical pain (159 patients, 131 females and 28 males) was in the lower limbs. Lower back pain was present in 113 of the 200 patients (94 females and 19 males). In the 30-39, 50-59, 60-69 years old group, the results for pain locations were significant: p = 0.01, p = 0.0069, p = 0.0003, respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of chronic pain was associated with females in 50–59 years old and severe mixed pain. Pain was located mainly in lower limbs and lumbar region. The most frequent diagnosis was low back pain followed by fibromyalgia. The patients were informed about their disease and treatment.

Keywords: Ambulatory care facilities; Analgesia; Atenção primária à saúde; Chronic pain; Dor crônica; Instituições de assistência ambulatorial; Pain management; Primary health care; Tratamento da dor.