Impact of Tender Points, Average Pain, Catastrophizing, Central Sensitization, Anxiety, and Depression on Quality of Life in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease.

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To analyze the impact of tender points in the body, average pain, Catastrophizing, Central Sensitization (CS), Anxiety, and Depression on the QoL of adults with SCD. Method This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. It collected sociodemographic data and applied the Brazilian-Portuguese Central Sensitization Inventory, the Brief Pain Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety/Depression Scale, the Brazilian-Portuguese Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the Short Form Health Survey 36. Statistical analysis was done to define associations (Chi-square or Fisher's Exact) and correlation (Pearson correlation test). The alpha level was 5%, and the Beta of 80%. Results 100 individuals participate, with genotypes HbSS/HbSC. 69% were women. Age 34.14 + 10.12 years. Pain intensity 4.20 + 2.67; 71% had chronic pain; 60% had widespread pain; 59% had CS; 33% had Anxiety; and 18% had Depression. The lowest mean score for QoL was for the Physical Aspect domain (35.55 + 40.16). Anxiety, Average Pain, CS, and Catastrophizing correlated with all the domains of QoL. Anxiety and CS showed a significant negative influence over the Mental Health domain (F(2.95) = 43.014 p < .001; adjusted R2 = .464), explaining 46.6% of the outcome. Catastrophizing and CS had a significant negative influence on the General Health Status (F(2.95) = 21.592 p < .001; adjusted R2 = .298), explaining 29.8% of the outcome; and Anxiety, Pain in lower limbs, and Depression had a significant negative influence on Pain domain (F(2.95) = 15.207 p < .001; adjusted R2 = .270), explaining 27% of the outcome. Conclusion Anxiety, Depression, Catastrophizing, and CS are significant factors that impact QoL. In a population of SCD individuals, the primary objective is to control pain, which leads to chronic pain directly affecting these predictors and, inevitably, QoL.