Abstract
Study design
Secondary analysis of an observational cohort study.
Objectives
To determine if the perceived overall limitation of neuropathic pain on activities (NP limitation) covaries in 26 specific life activities in people with SCI, taking into account the severity of injury.
Setting
Community-based in Canada.
Methods
Secondary analysis of a cohort (N = 1481) was performed using questionnaires to rate NP frequency and limitation on activities as well as participation in 26 life activities. Relative risks (RR) analyses using Poisson regression were used to examine the data.
Results
Most participants (N = 1158; 78%) reported living with NP (from once a year to every day). When NP limitation was described as “not at all” or “very little” (N = 394; 34%), there was no statistically significant RR (p > 0.0019), suggesting no additional risk of not participating “as much as wanted” in any of activities compared to participants with no NP. When NP limitation was described as “to some extent” (N = 411; 35%), a significantly higher risk was observed for 5 of the 26 activities (1.34 < RR < 1.62), and for 23 activities with a large range (1.24 < RR < 3.20) when NP limitation was rated as “to a great extent or more” (N = 353; 31%).
Conclusion
The variation of RR observed across the 26 activities suggests that the NP limitation may not be general but rather related to specific activity characteristics, which should be taken into account when evaluating NP limitations with a specific focus on the life activities being affected.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from The Praxis Institute, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data. Please contact one of the coauthor: Vanessa Noonan (vnoonan@praxisinstitute.org).
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Acknowledgements
We would also like to thank all participants who have taken the time to answer the survey.
Funding
We would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Rick Hansen Institute and the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.
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LN was responsible for designing and carrying out the study including analyzing data, interpreting results, and writing the manuscript. JEC and VKN collaborated for designing and carrying out the study and interpreting results and writing the manuscript. JL was responsible for the data extraction and the statistical analyses and contributed to the writing of the report. FSD coordinated the implementation of the study and contributed to the statistical analyses and the writing of the report.
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Ethics was approved by the Canadian Institutional Research Board Services and the Research Ethics Board of Université Laval (no. 93581). Informed consent was obtained from each participant included in the study. We certify that all applicable institutional and governmental regulations concerning the ethical use of human volunteers/animals were followed during the course of this research.
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Noreau, L., Cobb, J.E., Noonan, V.K. et al. Impact of neuropathic pain on participation: perspectives from the Canadian SCI community survey. Spinal Cord 59, 141–150 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-020-0512-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-020-0512-9
