Social distancing mandates were associated with a significant increase in self-reported pain severity and interference among 150 patients with chronic pain.
Cross-Sectional (n=150)
Do social distancing mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic affect pain severity and interference in patients with chronic pain?
Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with self-reported increases in pain severity and interference among patients with chronic pain, particularly among vulnerable demographic and psychosocial subgroups.
ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact, including on individuals with chronic pain. The social distancing policies necessary to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have involved increased levels of social isolation. This cross-sectional survey study examined pain severity and interference among individuals with chronic pain during an early phase of social distancing mandates and identified characteristics of individuals who were most impacted. Approximately 4 to 8 weeks after social distancing mandates commenced in the state of Massachusetts, 150 patients with fibromyalgia, chronic spine, and postsurgical pain completed demographic, pain, social distancing, and validated psychosocial questionnaires. Patients self-reported an overall significant increase in pain severity and pain interference, compared with before social distancing, although both pain severity and interference were quite variable among individuals under conditions of social distancing. Several demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors were associated with greater pain severity and interference during social distancing. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated that female sex, nonwhite race, lower education, disability, fibromyalgia, and higher pain catastrophizing were independently associated with greater pain severity, while female sex and pain catastrophizing were independently associated greater pain interference. The findings suggest that individual differences among patients with chronic pain should be considered in the planning, development, and prioritization of interventions to improve pain care and to prevent worsening of symptoms during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Hruschak et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Chronic pain (n=150). Social distancing mandates vs. Before social distancing was evaluated on Pain severity and pain interference. Social distancing mandates were associated with a significant increase in self-reported pain severity and interference among 150 patients with chronic pain.