Prevalence of pain and associated factors in venous ulcer patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is a very frequent symptom in venous ulcer patients and may be persistent and/or exacerbated during dressing change. Pain affects quality of life and may negatively impact wound healing. This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of pain and at evaluating major painassociated factors in venous ulcer patients.METHODS: This is a transversal study carried out in a Teaching Hospital of Natal, RN. Convenience sample was made up of 100 venous ulcer patients seen by the angiology ambulatory of this hospital. A structured interview form with socio-demographic and health characteristics, and assistance and injury characteristics was used, in addition to two questions about pain from the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36). Mann-Whitney test was used to compare categorical variables. Significance level was p<0.05.RESULTS: Pain was referred by 86% of evaluated patients. Patients with profession/occupation, low income and who did not smoke/drank, using compressive therapy, who were oriented about using compressive therapy and leg lifting, with minor injuries, in epithelialization stage, with no odor and without signs of infection had lower pain intensity and lower impact of pain on daily life activities.CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic factors and aspects regarding assistance and injury have influenced venous ulcer-related pain. Interventions aiming at influencing such factors might help controlling these patients' pain.

背景与目的：疼痛是静脉溃疡患者极为常见的症状，可呈持续性，或在换药时加重。疼痛可显著影响患者生活质量，并对伤口愈合产生负面影响。本研究旨在明确静脉溃疡患者的疼痛患病率，并评估与疼痛相关的主要影响因素。
方法：本研究为一项横断面研究，于巴西里约格兰德州纳塔尔的一所教学医院开展。研究便利样本纳入了该医院血管外科门诊接诊的100名静脉溃疡患者。研究采用包含社会人口学、健康状况、诊疗与伤口特征的结构化访谈问卷，同时使用来自医学结局研究简式36问卷（Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36，SF-36）的2项疼痛相关问题。采用曼-惠特尼U检验对分类变量进行比较，检验水准设定为p<0.05。
结果：86%的受访患者报告存在疼痛。有职业、低收入、无吸烟/饮酒史、接受加压治疗、知晓加压治疗与抬高患肢方法、伤口较小、处于上皮化阶段、无异味且无感染征象的患者，其疼痛强度更低，且疼痛对日常生活活动的影响更小。
结论：社会人口学因素以及诊疗与伤口相关特征，均可影响静脉溃疡相关性疼痛。针对上述影响因素开展干预，或有助于控制此类患者的疼痛症状。