Pain is a common problem in patients with ILD

Abstract Background Less is known about the prevalence and characteristics of pain in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients.To determine the characteristics of pain in ILD patients. Methods Participants with ILD and age, gender-matched, healthy controls completed short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and part of the Brief Pain Inventory short form(BPI) to elicit pain characteristics. ILD patients also had assessments of pulmonary function test, six minutes walking test (6MWT), modified medical research council dyspnea scale (mMRC) for state of the illness and measured health-related quality of life(HRQoL) by short form-36(SF-36)and psychological associations by hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS). Results A total of 63 participants with ILD and 63 healthy controls(HC) were recruited in our study. The prevalence of pain was 61.9% in ILDs versus 25.3% in HC (p=0.005) and the median score of pain rank index (PRI) in ILDs was higher than in HC (P=0.014). Chest(46.1%) accounted for the highest of overall pain locations in participants with ILD. Associated clinical factors for pain intensity in ILD patients included younger age (<60 years), exposure history of ILD risk factors, longer distance of 6MWD(≥250m), higher mMRC score(2-4) and lower DLCo, % predicted(≤45%). ILD patients with pain are more likely to suffer impaired HRQoL(P=0.0014) and psychological problems(P=0.0017,P=0.044). Conclusion Pain is common in those with ILD and the pain intensity is associated with age, exposure history, 6MWD, mMRC score and DLCo, % predicted. ILD patients with pain have more possible to suffer depression, anxiety and impaired HRQoL.