Chronic pain among Lebanese individuals with spinal cord injury: Pain interference and impact on quality of life

Background: Chronic pain is one of the most disabling consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI). Although studies have identified a link between chronic pain and decreased quality of life (QOL) among this population, few studies have looked into the experience of chronic pain in Lebanese individuals with SCI and the impact of pain characteristics on QOL. Thus, the present study evaluated the chronic pain experience and its associated factors among Lebanese individuals with SCI in order to determine the impact of pain on QOL. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 81 Lebanese individual with SCI between August 1st and October 31, 2022. The collected information included sociodemographic characteristics, SCI-related information, pain-related variables, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Factors associated with pain interference were evaluated using a linear regression model. One-way ANOVA and independent sample t-test were used to evaluate the association of different baseline and pain characteristics with QOL. Results: In the present study, 81.5% of participants reported chronic pain with the majority of them having neuropathic pain type. Employment status (P = 0.034), type of pain (P = 0.009), and pain severity (P = 0.028) were significantly associated with pain interference. Unemployed participants and those with severe chronic pain, particularly neuropathic pain, had lower QOL. Conclusion: Chronic pain was found to be highly prevalent among Lebanese patients with SCI. Pain interference and QOL were significantly affected by employment status and pain type. Therefore, targeting chronic pain and its associated factors in rehabilitation practice is warranted.