PURPOSE
Neuropathic pain is a major challenge in supportive care management among cancer patients. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of neuropathic pain in Nigerian cancer patients as well as some factors associated with neuropathic pain in these patients.
METHODS
This is a non-interventional cross-sectional study with 126 cancer patients both solid and non-solid tumours recruited from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and are 18 years and above with some form of pain. Socio-demographics and cancer records were collected from their medical files and the patients. The painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ) and the numeric rating scale (NRS) were used to determine their pain.
RESULTS
The prevalence of neuropathic pain in the study population was 23%. The average age of the patients was 53 years. Of the 126 patients evaluated, 69.8% were females. There was no significant difference in neuropathic pain occurrence and age, sex, and cancer type (p > 0.05). There was a significant association between neuropathic pain and performance status (p < 0.001), morphine and pregabalin use (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, performance status (b = 18.00, p = 0.009) and use of morphine (b = 11.52, p < 0.001) and pregabalin (b = 18.09, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with neuropathic pain. Performance status, and morphine use (p < 0.001) were associated with pain severity.
CONCLUSION
This being the first study in Nigeria, the prevalence of neuropathic pain in Nigerian cancer patients is relatively within range compared to other studies. Performance status and the use of some pain modifiers are predictors of neuropathic pain in Nigerian cancer patients.