Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain in Cancer Patients Treated at a High-Complexity Unit: Analysis Based on Validated Pain Assessment ScalesIntroduction: Cancer is a chronic-degenerative condition characterized by disordered cell growth, which may lead to metastasis and cause significant physical and emotional distress. Among the adverse effects of oncological treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, neuropathic pain stands out, as it is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, substantially impairing patients’ quality of life and functionality.
Objective: Investigate the prevalence of neuropathic pain in cancer patients undergoing outpatient treatment at Hospital Ophir Loyola, in Belém, Brazil.
Method: A cross-sectional, quantitative, and observational study was conducted between June and December 2024, including 80 adult participants with confirmed cancer diagnosis undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Data collection employed validated instruments: painDETECT, DN-4, and ESAS-r. Statistical analysis included association tests and logistic regression, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Pain was reported by 80% of participants. Neuropathic pain was identified in 32.8% of patients through painDETECT scores, and in 43.8% using DN-4. ESAS-r was the only instrument that showed a statistically significant association with neuropathic pain (p<0.05), highlighting its potential as a sensitive screening tool for this condition.
Conclusion: Neuropathic pain affects a considerable proportion of cancer patients, and its effective identification relies on the use of standardized instruments. Furthermore, structured clinical protocols for pain and functionality assessment are essential to guide comprehensive and humanized oncological care.
Key words:
Cancer Pain/drug therapy; Neoplasms/drug therapy; Induction Chemotherapy/adverse effects
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