Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individuals

Abstract Background Pain is a common problem for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). In Sweden, 95% of children and adolescents with CP are followed in a national follow-up programme (CPUP), which includes data on pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pain based on a...

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Main Authors: Elsa Eriksson, Gunnar Hägglund, Ann I. Alriksson-Schmidt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-01-01
Series:BMC Neurology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-019-1597-7
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author Elsa Eriksson
Gunnar Hägglund
Ann I. Alriksson-Schmidt
author_facet Elsa Eriksson
Gunnar Hägglund
Ann I. Alriksson-Schmidt
author_sort Elsa Eriksson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pain is a common problem for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). In Sweden, 95% of children and adolescents with CP are followed in a national follow-up programme (CPUP), which includes data on pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pain based on age, sex, gross motor function and source of report (self or proxy). Pain intensity, pain site, and how much pain disturbed sleep and daily activities were also studied. Methods This was a cross-sectional register study based on all participants in CPUP, 4–18-years of age, with data reported in 2017–2018. Gross motor function was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Logistic regression was used to analyse prevalence of pain and how much pain had disturbed sleep and daily activities in the last four weeks. Results In total, 3545 participants (2065 boys) were included. The overall prevalence of pain was 44%. Older age and female sex were associated with higher risk of pain with odds ratios of 1.07 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.09) and 1.28 (CI 1.12–1.47), respectively. Pain was most common in the lower extremities. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence of pain related to source of report. Pain intensity was higher at older ages and higher GMFCS-levels. Hip/thigh pain and abdominal pain were associated with the most intense pain. Of those who reported pain, pain disturbed sleep for 36% and daily activities for 61%. Conclusions Both pain frequency and pain intensity were higher at higher age. Pain intensity increased with increasing GMFCS-level. Two-thirds of all children and adolescents with CP reported that their pain disturbed their daily activities, and one-third reported that pain disturbed their sleep.
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spelling doaj.art-a918138b4d524cd6bb48b5ba23598c652022-12-21T19:51:27ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772020-01-012011910.1186/s12883-019-1597-7Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individualsElsa Eriksson0Gunnar Hägglund1Ann I. Alriksson-Schmidt2Faculty of Medicine, Lund UniversityDepartment of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skane University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skane University HospitalAbstract Background Pain is a common problem for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). In Sweden, 95% of children and adolescents with CP are followed in a national follow-up programme (CPUP), which includes data on pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pain based on age, sex, gross motor function and source of report (self or proxy). Pain intensity, pain site, and how much pain disturbed sleep and daily activities were also studied. Methods This was a cross-sectional register study based on all participants in CPUP, 4–18-years of age, with data reported in 2017–2018. Gross motor function was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Logistic regression was used to analyse prevalence of pain and how much pain had disturbed sleep and daily activities in the last four weeks. Results In total, 3545 participants (2065 boys) were included. The overall prevalence of pain was 44%. Older age and female sex were associated with higher risk of pain with odds ratios of 1.07 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.09) and 1.28 (CI 1.12–1.47), respectively. Pain was most common in the lower extremities. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence of pain related to source of report. Pain intensity was higher at older ages and higher GMFCS-levels. Hip/thigh pain and abdominal pain were associated with the most intense pain. Of those who reported pain, pain disturbed sleep for 36% and daily activities for 61%. Conclusions Both pain frequency and pain intensity were higher at higher age. Pain intensity increased with increasing GMFCS-level. Two-thirds of all children and adolescents with CP reported that their pain disturbed their daily activities, and one-third reported that pain disturbed their sleep.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-019-1597-7PainCerebral palsyChildrenYouthsPain intensity
spellingShingle Elsa Eriksson
Gunnar Hägglund
Ann I. Alriksson-Schmidt
Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individuals
BMC Neurology
Pain
Cerebral palsy
Children
Youths
Pain intensity
title Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individuals
title_full Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individuals
title_fullStr Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individuals
title_full_unstemmed Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individuals
title_short Pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy – a cross-sectional register study of 3545 individuals
title_sort pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy a cross sectional register study of 3545 individuals
topic Pain
Cerebral palsy
Children
Youths
Pain intensity
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-019-1597-7
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AT annialrikssonschmidt paininchildrenandadolescentswithcerebralpalsyacrosssectionalregisterstudyof3545individuals