Cross-sectional study of pain-related variables before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with COPD

BACKGROUND: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic influences of COPD patients. The worsening of their health status may contribute to a higher pain prevalence. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the pain-related variables before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: In this cross-sectional case-control study, stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease without a COVID-19 diagnosis were evaluated before and during the pandemic. The main outcomes were the pronociceptive pain profile (general pain sensitivity, pain intensity, pain interference, and pressure pain sensitivity) and the psychological vulnerability (perceived health status, anxiety, and depression). RESULTS: Our results showed that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during COVID-19 pandemic experienced higher general pain sensitivity and intensity with statistical differences in pain interference (p < .001), being the overall perceived health status lower than before the pandemic (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during the COVID-19 pandemic showed a rise the pronociceptive pain profile accompanied by increased psychological vulnerability.