The incidence, characteristics, impact and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain in Thailand: a single-center cross-sectional study

Suratsawadee Wangnamthip; Nantthasorn Zinboonyahgoon; Pranee Rushatamukayanunt; Patcha Papaisarn; Burapa Pajina; Thanawut Jitsinthunun; Panuwat Promsin; Rujipas Sirijatuphat; César Fernández-de-las-Peñas; Lars Arendt-Nielsen; Daniel Ciampi de Andrade

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0296700

The incidence, characteristics, impact and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain in Thailand: a single-center cross-sectional study

Suratsawadee Wangnamthip, Nantthasorn Zinboonyahgoon^*, Pranee Rushatamukayanunt, Patcha Papaisarn, Burapa Pajina, Thanawut Jitsinthunun, Panuwat Promsin, Rujipas Sirijatuphat, César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Daniel Ciampi de Andrade

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of individuals worldwide. Pain has emerged as a significant post-COVID-19 symptom. This study investigated the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted in participants who had been infected, including those hospitalized and monitored at home by SARS-CoV-2 from August to September 2021. Data were collected for screening from medical records, and phone interviews were done between 3 to 6 months post-infection. Participants were classified into 1) no-pain, 2) PCCP, 3) chronic pain that has been aggravated by COVID-19, or 4) chronic pain that has not been aggravated by COVID-19. Pain interference and quality of life were evaluated with the Brief Pain Inventory and EuroQol Five Dimensions Five Levels Questionnaire. From 1,019 participants, 90% of the participants had mild infection, assessed by WHO progression scale. The overall incidence of PCCP was 3.2% (95% CI 2.3–4.5), with 2.8% (95% CI 2.0–4.1) in mild infection, 5.2% (95% CI 1.2–14.1) in moderate infection and 8.5% (95% CI 3.4–19.9) in severe infection. Most participants (83.3%) reported pain in the back and lower extremities and were classified as musculoskeletal pain and headache (8.3%). Risk factors associated with PCCP, included female sex (relative risk [RR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.9) and greater COVID-19 severity (RR 3.5, 95% CI 1.1–11.7). Participants with COVID-19-related exacerbated chronic pain displayed higher pain interferences and lower utility scores than other groups. In conclusion, this study highlights the incidence, features, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. It emphasizes the need to monitor and address PCCP, especially in severe cases, among females, and individuals with a history of chronic pain to improve their quality of life in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Original language	English
Article number	e0296700
Journal	P L o S One
Volume	19
Issue number	1
ISSN	1932-6203
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296700
Publication status	Published - 12 Jan 2024

Bibliographical note

Copyright: © 2024 Wangnamthip et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Keywords

COVID-19/complications
Chronic Pain/complications
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Incidence
Pandemics
Quality of Life
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2
Thailand/epidemiology

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Wangnamthip, S., Zinboonyahgoon, N., Rushatamukayanunt, P., Papaisarn, P., Pajina, B., Jitsinthunun, T., Promsin, P., Sirijatuphat, R., Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., Arendt-Nielsen, L., & de Andrade, D. C. (2024). The incidence, characteristics, impact and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain in Thailand: a single-center cross-sectional study. P L o S One, 19(1), Article e0296700. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296700

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title = "The incidence, characteristics, impact and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain in Thailand: a single-center cross-sectional study",

abstract = "The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of individuals worldwide. Pain has emerged as a significant post-COVID-19 symptom. This study investigated the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted in participants who had been infected, including those hospitalized and monitored at home by SARS-CoV-2 from August to September 2021. Data were collected for screening from medical records, and phone interviews were done between 3 to 6 months post-infection. Participants were classified into 1) no-pain, 2) PCCP, 3) chronic pain that has been aggravated by COVID-19, or 4) chronic pain that has not been aggravated by COVID-19. Pain interference and quality of life were evaluated with the Brief Pain Inventory and EuroQol Five Dimensions Five Levels Questionnaire. From 1,019 participants, 90% of the participants had mild infection, assessed by WHO progression scale. The overall incidence of PCCP was 3.2% (95% CI 2.3–4.5), with 2.8% (95% CI 2.0–4.1) in mild infection, 5.2% (95% CI 1.2–14.1) in moderate infection and 8.5% (95% CI 3.4–19.9) in severe infection. Most participants (83.3%) reported pain in the back and lower extremities and were classified as musculoskeletal pain and headache (8.3%). Risk factors associated with PCCP, included female sex (relative risk [RR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.9) and greater COVID-19 severity (RR 3.5, 95% CI 1.1–11.7). Participants with COVID-19-related exacerbated chronic pain displayed higher pain interferences and lower utility scores than other groups. In conclusion, this study highlights the incidence, features, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. It emphasizes the need to monitor and address PCCP, especially in severe cases, among females, and individuals with a history of chronic pain to improve their quality of life in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.",

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Wangnamthip, S, Zinboonyahgoon, N, Rushatamukayanunt, P, Papaisarn, P, Pajina, B, Jitsinthunun, T, Promsin, P, Sirijatuphat, R, Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C, Arendt-Nielsen, L & de Andrade, DC 2024, 'The incidence, characteristics, impact and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain in Thailand: a single-center cross-sectional study', P L o S One, vol. 19, no. 1, e0296700. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296700

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T1 - The incidence, characteristics, impact and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain in Thailand: a single-center cross-sectional study

AU - Wangnamthip, Suratsawadee

AU - Zinboonyahgoon, Nantthasorn

AU - Rushatamukayanunt, Pranee

AU - Papaisarn, Patcha

AU - Pajina, Burapa

AU - Jitsinthunun, Thanawut

AU - Promsin, Panuwat

AU - Sirijatuphat, Rujipas

AU - Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César

AU - Arendt-Nielsen, Lars

AU - de Andrade, Daniel Ciampi

N1 - Copyright: © 2024 Wangnamthip et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

PY - 2024/1/12

Y1 - 2024/1/12

N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of individuals worldwide. Pain has emerged as a significant post-COVID-19 symptom. This study investigated the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted in participants who had been infected, including those hospitalized and monitored at home by SARS-CoV-2 from August to September 2021. Data were collected for screening from medical records, and phone interviews were done between 3 to 6 months post-infection. Participants were classified into 1) no-pain, 2) PCCP, 3) chronic pain that has been aggravated by COVID-19, or 4) chronic pain that has not been aggravated by COVID-19. Pain interference and quality of life were evaluated with the Brief Pain Inventory and EuroQol Five Dimensions Five Levels Questionnaire. From 1,019 participants, 90% of the participants had mild infection, assessed by WHO progression scale. The overall incidence of PCCP was 3.2% (95% CI 2.3–4.5), with 2.8% (95% CI 2.0–4.1) in mild infection, 5.2% (95% CI 1.2–14.1) in moderate infection and 8.5% (95% CI 3.4–19.9) in severe infection. Most participants (83.3%) reported pain in the back and lower extremities and were classified as musculoskeletal pain and headache (8.3%). Risk factors associated with PCCP, included female sex (relative risk [RR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.9) and greater COVID-19 severity (RR 3.5, 95% CI 1.1–11.7). Participants with COVID-19-related exacerbated chronic pain displayed higher pain interferences and lower utility scores than other groups. In conclusion, this study highlights the incidence, features, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. It emphasizes the need to monitor and address PCCP, especially in severe cases, among females, and individuals with a history of chronic pain to improve their quality of life in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of individuals worldwide. Pain has emerged as a significant post-COVID-19 symptom. This study investigated the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted in participants who had been infected, including those hospitalized and monitored at home by SARS-CoV-2 from August to September 2021. Data were collected for screening from medical records, and phone interviews were done between 3 to 6 months post-infection. Participants were classified into 1) no-pain, 2) PCCP, 3) chronic pain that has been aggravated by COVID-19, or 4) chronic pain that has not been aggravated by COVID-19. Pain interference and quality of life were evaluated with the Brief Pain Inventory and EuroQol Five Dimensions Five Levels Questionnaire. From 1,019 participants, 90% of the participants had mild infection, assessed by WHO progression scale. The overall incidence of PCCP was 3.2% (95% CI 2.3–4.5), with 2.8% (95% CI 2.0–4.1) in mild infection, 5.2% (95% CI 1.2–14.1) in moderate infection and 8.5% (95% CI 3.4–19.9) in severe infection. Most participants (83.3%) reported pain in the back and lower extremities and were classified as musculoskeletal pain and headache (8.3%). Risk factors associated with PCCP, included female sex (relative risk [RR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.9) and greater COVID-19 severity (RR 3.5, 95% CI 1.1–11.7). Participants with COVID-19-related exacerbated chronic pain displayed higher pain interferences and lower utility scores than other groups. In conclusion, this study highlights the incidence, features, and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain (PCCP) in Thailand. It emphasizes the need to monitor and address PCCP, especially in severe cases, among females, and individuals with a history of chronic pain to improve their quality of life in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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KW - Chronic Pain/complications

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KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Incidence

KW - Pandemics

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Risk Factors

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Thailand/epidemiology

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DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0296700

M3 - Journal article

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SN - 1932-6203

VL - 19

JO - P L o S One

JF - P L o S One

IS - 1

M1 - e0296700

ER -

The incidence, characteristics, impact and risk factors of post-COVID chronic pain in Thailand: a single-center cross-sectional study

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