Variables associated with decreasing pain among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus: a longitudinal follow-up study.

BACKGROUND

Pain is common among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); however, there are minimal data on its natural history, or the long-term efficacy of analgesic therapies.

METHODS

We performed an observational study between 2001 and 2009. Pain was defined on a 0 to 10 scale; 0=no pain; 10=worst pain possible. Patients were included if they were HIV positive, had a chronic pain diagnosis, a median pain score during the first year of observation of ≥1.0, ≥2 years of follow-up, and ≥3 recorded pain scores. Two models were used to describe decreasing pain. Model 1 defined decreasing pain as a negative slope to the best fit line through all recorded pain scores. Model 2 defined decreasing pain as a median pain score of zero during the last year of follow-up.

RESULTS

Using model 1, decreasing pain was negatively associated with a history of being abused (odds ratio=0.29) and positively associated with peripheral neuropathy (3.54). Using model 2, decreasing pain was positively associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (3.71) and negatively associated with opioid analgesic use (0.24).

CONCLUSIONS

We found social and HIV-related variables associated with decreasing pain. We failed to show a positive association between analgesic use and decreasing pain.