Health status, function, productivity, and costs among individuals with idiopathic painful peripheral neuropathy with small fiber involvement in the United States: results from a retrospective chart review and cross-sectional survey. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schaefer, Caroline; Mann, Rachael; Sadosky, Alesia; Daniel, Shoshana; Parsons, Bruce; Nalamachu, Srinivas; Stacey, Brett R.; Tuchman, Michael; Anschel, Alan; Nieshoff, Edward
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical economics. Volume 17:Number 6(2014)
• Page Start: 394
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Medical care -- Cost control -- Periodicals; Medical economics -- Periodicals; 362.10941
• DOI: 10.3111/13696998.2014.909439
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-6998

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ss1"> <title>Objective:</title> <p>To characterize the burden of idiopathic painful peripheral neuropathy with small fiber involvement (idiopathic SFN) by pain severity in the US.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss2"> <title>Methods:</title> <p>One hundred previously diagnosed idiopathic SFN subjects were enrolled during routine office visits. Subjects completed a one-time questionnaire, and investigators reported clinical characteristics and healthcare resource use, based on 6 month retrospective chart review. Annualized direct and indirect costs were estimated. Results were stratified across pain severity groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss3"> <title>Results:</title> <p>Mean age was 63.5 years; 53.0% were female; 76.0% had moderate or severe pain. Most common comorbidities were sleep disturbance/insomnia (37.0%), anxiety (34.0%), and depressive symptoms (33.0%). Overall mean health status (0.59; −0.11–1.00 scale), physical and mental health (31.7 and 45.6, respectively, 0–100 scale), sleep index (45.1; 0–100 scale), and pain interference with function (5.0; 0–10 scale) differed by pain severity, with worse outcomes among those with greater pain (all <italic>p</italic> < 0.002). 84.0% were prescribed ≥1 SFN medication. 16.0% were employed; mean overall work impairment was 36.9%. Annualized average adjusted direct and indirect costs per subject ($8055 and $13, 733, respectively) differed by pain severity.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss4"> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>Idiopathic SFN subjects with pain experience moderate or severe pain, which negatively impacts health status, function, and productivity, and leads to substantial direct and indirect costs.</p> </sec> </abstract>