Prevalence of neuropathic pain in terminally ill patients with cancer admitted to a general ward: a prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain among terminally ill patients with cancer admitted to a general ward, using the International Association for the Study of Pain algorithm. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center. We enrolled terminally ill patients with cancer admitted to the general ward between September 2018 and September 2019. On the day of consultation with our palliative care team, pain management clinicians examined and diagnosed neuropathic pain using the International Association for the Study of Pain diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were enrolled during the study period. The median age was 69 years (interquartile range [IQR] 58.3–76.8 years), 72 patients (66.7%) were men, and the median survival time was 33 days (IQR 14.3–62 days). Of the 108 patients, 33 (30.6%) had neuropathic pain. Patients with neuropathic pain had more severe pain than those without neuropathic pain. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of neuropathic pain in terminally ill patients with cancer admitted to a Japanese general ward was 30.6%. Further studies are warranted to elucidate whether the accurate diagnosis of neuropathic pain can improve pain control and/or patient conditions.