Pain trajectories and well‐being in children and young people with cerebral palsy: A cohort study

AIM: To identify 5‐week pain intensity trajectories and their association with physical and psychological well‐being in children/young people with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: A cohort study was conducted with 101 Canadian children/young people with CP, of whom 49 were female, with an overall mean age of 12 years 11 months (SD 3 years 1 month), range of 8 to 18 years, and classified in any Gross Motor Function Classification System level. Self‐reported pain intensity (Faces Pain Scale – Revised) was collected weekly for 5 weeks and physical and psychological well‐being (KIDSCREEN‐27) at baseline and 5 weeks. Statistical analyses included latent class growth and general linear models. RESULTS: All Gross Motor Function Classification System levels were represented (I = 40.6%; II = 15.8%; III = 20.8%; IV = 13.9%; V = 8.9%). Five pain intensity trajectories were identified. Three trajectories had very low (35.4%), low (32.4%), or high (4.9%) mean stable pain. Two trajectories had moderate changing pain (16.8%) and high pain decreasing to moderate levels (10.5%) respectively. Trajectory participants with stable high pain had the lowest physical well‐being (adjusted β = −10.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −19.37 to −0.66). Those in the three trajectories with the highest mean baseline pain intensity (>3 out of 10) had the lowest psychological well‐being (adjusted β = −8.27, 95% CI = −14.84 to −1.70; β = −6.74, 95% CI = −12.43 to −1.05; β = −5.82, 95% CI = −15.34 to 3.71). INTERPRETATION: Almost one‐third of participants had moderate‐to‐high pain intensity trajectories. Membership in the higher pain intensity trajectories was associated with lower physical and psychological well‐being. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Five distinct 5‐week pain intensity trajectories were identified in children/young people with cerebral palsy. Thirty‐two per cent of participants had moderate‐to‐high pain intensity trajectories. Participants in the trajectories with higher pain intensity reported lower physical and psychological well‐being.