1. Prevalence of Chronic Pain with Neuropathic Characteristics in the Moroccan General Population: A National Survey.
- Author
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Harifi, Ghita, Amine, Mohamed, Ouazar, Mariam Ait, Boujemaoui, Asmae, Ouilki, Imane, Rekkab, Imane, Belkhou, Ahlam, Bouchti, Imane El, Niamane, Redouane, and Hassani, Selma El
- Subjects
AGE distribution ,CHI-squared test ,CHRONIC pain ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,STATISTICAL sampling ,SEX distribution ,T-test (Statistics) ,VISUAL analog scale ,DISEASE prevalence ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Objective. We conducted a telephonic survey to determine the prevalence of chronic pain with neuropathic characteristics (NC) in the Moroccan general population. Design. We performed a large nationwide tele-phonic survey based upon a random sampling of households in the 16 administrative regions of Morocco to determine the prevalence of chronic pain with NC in the general population. We used a stratified sampling taking into account the number of residents in each region. A sample of house-holds was drawn for each of the 16 regions using systematic sampling. Outcome Measures. A questionnaire aimed at iden-tifying chronic pain (defined as daily pain for at least 3 months), evaluating its intensity, duration, and body locations was used. The Moroccan validated version of DN4 questionnaire was used to identify neuropathic characteristics. Results. A total of 5,328 respondents participated in the survey. 21% of the respondents (1,074) (95%CI: 19,9-22,2), reported chronic daily pain for more than 3 months. The point prevalence of chronic pain with NC, was 10.6% (95% CI: 9,75-11,45). The prevalence was higher in women and individuals older than 60. Chronic pain with NC was significantly more preva-lent in women, elderly, Illiterate respondents, and respondents from lower social class. It was more frequently located in the lower limbs, and its inten-sity and duration were higher in comparison with chronic pain without neuropathic characteristics. Conclusion. Chronic pain with neuropathic charac-teristics is probably more prevalent in the general population than was previously thought and is gen-erally more severe than other chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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