Prevalence of neuropathic pain among black African patients suffering from common low back pain

Abstract

To study the prevalence and semiotic characteristics of neuropathic pain in the common low back pain to the Black African subject. This was a prospective cross-sectional survey carried on from April 1 2009 to August 31 2009 in consultations of rheumatology, neurology, and neurosurgery at the University Hospital Yalgado Ouédraogo in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). All patients with a low back pain or a common lomboradiculalgie were included. DN4 questionnaire was used for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain. One hundred and seven patients have been recruited during the study period; Sixty-four (59.80%) were female (sex ratio M/F: 0.67). The average age was 34.11 ± 13.46 years of age with extremes of 20 and 79. The average duration of disease was 48.53 months with extremes of 10 days and 50 years. Eighty-seven patients (81.31%) had a disease duration, which was 3 months longer. Sixty-six patients (61.70%) had a predominant lomboradiculalgie; among the remaining 41, low back pain predominated. Average intensity of pain was 62.81 ± 22.43 (on a scale of 100). A sign of Lasèque was present in the 41 (38.30%) patients. Fifty-three (49.5%) patients had a neuropathic pain. The prevalence of neuropathy signs according to the DN4 questionnaire was as follows: burning (n = 37; 34.58%), painful cold (n = 13; 12.15%), electric shocks (n = 31; 38.97%), pins and needles (n = 34; 31.77%), tingling (n = 35; 32.71%), numbness (n = 45; 42.05%), itching (n = 18; 16.82%), touch hypoesthesia (n = 35; 32.71%), pinprick (n = 33; 30.84%), and tactile allodynia (n = 21; 19.62%). Among the studied variables, the presence of a radiculalgy was statistically associated with neuropathic pain. The lomboradiculalgie of the Black African subject associates neuropathic pain observed in half of patients. Treatment must therefore always take account of this association. However, further studies are needed before any definitive conclusion.

Clinical practice guidelines for management of neuropathic pain: Expert panel recommendations for South Africa

“…43 A similar rate of neuropathic pain (55%) was reported in adults with lower back pain in an outpatient setting in the Arabian Gulf region. 44 PHN and DPN are also leading causes of NeuP, but data on the prevalence of these causes in South Africa are limited.…”

Prévalence et caractéristiques des douleurs chroniques avec caractère neuropathique en population générale à Parakou au nord du Bénin en 2012

“…Au Bré sil, Erica Brandao de Moraes Vieira, objective 10 % de pré valence de douleurs neuropathiques [17]. Par contre d'autres auteurs avaient observé des ré sultats nettement supé rieurs aux nô tres [22,31] forte pré valence observé e lors de ces é tudes pourrait s'expliquer par la mé thodologie utilisé e. A contrario, Gustorff et Freid en Autriche, ont noté une pré valence de 3,3 % avec l'outil NPS [33]. Les outils diagnostiques utilisé s lors de ces enquê té s peuvent expliquer ces faibles pré valences comparé es à celle trouvé e dans notre é tude.…”

“…Les caracté ristiques du questionnaire DN4 les plus repré -senté s dans notre sé rie é taient les brû lures (87,6 %), les picotements (82,8 %), l'engourdissement (66,8 %). Des ré sultats similaires ont é té retrouvé par plusieurs auteurs [18,22]. Par contre dans l'é tude ré alisé e en France, les symptô mes du DN4 les plus repré senté é taient les fourmillements (73,4 %), l'engourdissement (74,3 %), les brû lures (67 %) et les dé charges é lectriques (63,8 %) [26].…”

“…L'é pidé miologie des douleurs neuropathiques est peu é tudié e en Afrique au sud du Sahara. Les é tudes sur la douleur neuropathique en Afrique subsaharienne concernent de sous-population spé cifique et rapportent une fré quence de 7,1 % à 49,5 % [19][20][21][22][23]. Il n'existe quasiment pas d'é tude en population gé né rale.…”

Back Complaints in Older Adults: Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain and Its Characteristics

“…Neuropathic symptoms are reported in 16–55.6% of patients with low back pain, with and without radiating leg pain [13,19–24]. The range is broad because studies were performed in various populations.…”