ValidPain2 - Performance of the Nociception Level Index and the PainSensor to predict and detect responsiveness to nociceptive procedures in critical care patients

This anonymous dataset belongs to the following open-access publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2025.155090 Title: Performance of the Nociception Level Index and the PainSensor to predict and detect responsiveness to nociceptive procedures in critical care patients Brief description: Frontal EEG recordings and nociception monitor recordings during putatively noxious and non-noxious interventions in mechanically-ventilated intesive care patients unable to self-report pain. The study was approved by the appropriate ethics committee (EA1/151/16) and was registered at the German registry for clinical trials (DRKS00011206; Universal Trial Number: U1111–1189-2772). Please properly cite the publication when working with the data set! Viktor Bublitz, Teresa Ringat, Carlo Jurth, Gregor Lichtner, Falk von Dincklage, Performance of the Nociception Level Index and the PainSensor to predict and detect responsiveness to nociceptive procedures in critical care patients, Journal of Critical Care, Volume 88, 2025, 155090, ISSN 0883-9441, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2025.155090. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883944125000772) Abstract: Background Monitoring of pain and nociception in critical care patients unable to self-report pain remains challenging. Technical nociception monitors could provide valuable support. Here, we investigated the Nociception Level Index (NOL) and the PainSensor for their ability to predict and detect behavioral responsiveness to two potentially painful clinical interventions. Methods We included 196 critical care patients undergoing endotracheal suctioning (n = 149) and positioning (n = 47). Clinical responsiveness was graded using the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS). As potential predictors of responsiveness, we recorded data from the NOL and PainSensor along with a variety of nociception-unspecific confounders, including the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). We assessed their ability to predict behavioral responsiveness using prediction probability. Results Both nociception monitors predicted behavioral responsiveness to endotracheal suctioning (NOL 0.67 [0.61–0.74, 95 % confidence interval], PainSensor 0.57 [0.51–0.63]), but neither outperformed the RASS (0.73 [0.68–0.77]). Behavioral responsiveness to positioning was predicted by the NOL (0.80 [0.66–0.94]) but not the PainSensor (0.54 [0.40–0.67]). Again, neither outperformed the RASS (0.68 [0.56–0.80]). Conclusion Both nociception monitors can predict behavioral responsiveness to nociceptive clinical stimulation. However, the added value of nociception monitors for detecting pain and nociception in critical care patients remains questionable, as readily available non-technical observational scales show a comparable performance. Keywords: Nociception; Pain; Arousal; Pain monitoring; Analgesia; Critical care