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Meisinger, C. ; Bongaerts, B.W.C.* ; Heier, M. ; Amann, U.* ; Kowall, B.* ; Herder, C.* ; Rückert-Eheberg, I.-M. ; Rathmann, W.* ; Ziegler, D.*

Neuropathic pain is not adequately treated in the older general population: Results from the KORA F4 survey.

Pharmacoepidemiol. Drug Saf. 27, 806-814 (2018)
Postprint DOI PMC
Open Access Green
Purpose: We evaluated the pharmacological treatment of distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) among older subjects from the general population. Methods: The study included subjects aged 61 to 82 years from the KORA F4 survey (2006-2008). DSPN was defined as the presence of bilaterally impaired foot-vibration perception and/or bilaterally impaired foot-pressure sensation. Pain intensity was assessed with the painDETECT questionnaire. Results: From the included 1076 older persons, 172 (16%) persons reported pain in the lower extremities and DSPN was present in 150 (14%) subjects. Forty-eight people with pain in the lower extremities reported DSPN. Only 38% of the subjects with DSPN reporting an average pain level of ≥4 during the past 4 weeks received medical treatment, predominantly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs 20% and opioids 12%). The medication of choice for neuropathic pain, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and opioids was relatively being underused. However, opioids and neuropathy preparations were prescribed preferably for subjects with painful DSPN. Conclusions: In the older general population, only a small proportion of subjects with painful DSPN receive analgesic pharmacotherapy. Although not recommended by guidelines for the treatment of neuropathic pain, NSAIDs were the most frequently used class of analgesic drugs.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Aged ; Drug Therapy ; Pain ; Pharmacoepidemiology ; Polyneuropathies; Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy; Cross-sectional Survey; Clinical Characteristics; Southern Germany; Polyneuropathy; Management; Recommendations; Prevalence; Guidelines; Disorders
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1053-8569
e-ISSN 1099-1557
Journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
Quellenangaben Volume: 27, Issue: 7, Pages: 806-814 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Wiley
Publishing Place 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, Nj Usa
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI2)