PATIENTS with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are five times more likely to experience chronic pain than their age-matched peers, according to a new study analyzing electronic medical records from over 250 million patients. The study highlights the significant burden of pain in patients with PD and the potential impact of comorbid conditions.
The research examined data from 4,510 patients with PD and 4.2 million age-matched controls without the disease. Chronic pain was diagnosed in 19.3% of males and 22.8% of females with PD, dramatically higher than the 3.78% and 4.76% prevalence seen in non-PD patients. This disparity underscores the need for improved pain management strategies for individuals living with PD.
In addition to higher chronic pain rates, patients with PD also exhibited a greater prevalence of comorbid conditions that could contribute to their pain. Notably, females with PD had a significantly higher prevalence of depression and were more frequently prescribed antidepressants than their male counterparts.
Medication use also differed between groups. Patients with PD were more likely to be prescribed tramadol, oxycodone, and neuropathic agents compared to non-PD individuals. They were less likely to receive NSAIDs, which may suggest differences in pain treatment approaches or tolerability among those with PD.
The findings emphasize the importance of recognizing chronic pain as a key clinical concern in PD management. Whether chronic pain is a direct consequence of Parkinson’s or a result of its associated comorbidities remains unclear, but the study reinforces the need for tailored pain management strategies in this patient population.
Reference: Thomas HA et al. Prevalence of pain phenotypes and co-morbidities of chronic pain in Parkinson’s Disease. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2024;246:108563.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
