Document 0317
 DOCN  M94A0317
 TI    Pain in hospitalized patients with AIDS: analgesic and psychotropic
       medications.
 DT    9412
 AU    Lebovits AH; Smith G; Maignan M; Lefkowitz M; Department of
       Anesthesiology, State University of New York Health; Science Center at
       Brooklyn 11203.
 SO    Clin J Pain. 1994 Jun;10(2):156-61. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94355736
 AB    OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to evaluate the use of analgesic and
       psychotropic medication in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
       patients with pain and to determine whether our previous findings of a
       high prevalence of pain in patients with AIDS who were hospitalized
       could be replicated. Additional factors related to pain were evaluated,
       such as death during hospital stay, i.v. drug abuse, and length of
       hospital stay. DESIGN: One hundred thirty-nine medical charts randomly
       selected from 1 year of hospital admissions of patients with AIDS were
       reviewed in a systematic manner for pain, prescription of analgesic and
       psychotropic medication, patient demographics, and disease
       characteristics. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent of the charts reviewed had
       at least one note of nonprocedural pain. Sixty-eight percent of pain
       patients were prescribed a nonnarcotic (most commonly acetaminophen),
       and 44% a narcotic. Sixty-two percent of pain patients were prescribed a
       psychotropic medication. Patients with pain were significantly more
       likely to receive an analgesic as well as psychotropic medication,
       particularly a sedative-hypnotic, than patients without pain. Having
       pain was not significantly related to other factors such as i.v. drug
       abuse except for length of hospital stay. Most of the previous study
       findings were replicated with the notable exception of the rate of
       prescription of psychotropics as well as acetaminophen, which increased
       substantially in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Although pain is a prevalent
       problem in hospitalized AIDS patients, narcotics as well as
       antidepressants appear to be underutilized. It is suggested that medical
       education regarding pain management in AIDS patients is an important
       first step in a more aggressive approach.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY/
       *PHYSIOPATHOLOGY  Adult  Analgesics/*THERAPEUTIC USE  Female
       *Hospitalization  Human  Male  Middle Age  Pain/*DRUG
       THERAPY/*PHYSIOPATHOLOGY  Psychotropic Drugs/*THERAPEUTIC USE  Risk
       Factors  Substance Abuse, Intravenous/COMPLICATIONS  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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