Clinical manifestations in patients with musculoskeletal pain post-chikungunya

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic clinical manifestations of the chikungunya virus infection are associated with high rates of disability and worsening of quality of life, representing one of the major challenges for global public health. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical-psycho-functional presentation of the chikungunya virus-infected individuals with complaints of chronic musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: Twenty-two individuals with a diagnosis of chikungunya virus infection and a complaint of persistent musculoskeletal pain (≥3 months) participated in the study. The clinical-psycho-functional evaluation was performed through the intensity and affective-emotional aspect of pain, quality of life, kinesophobia, global perception of post-infection pain recovery and emotional functionality. In the end, the pressure pain threshold and the conditioned pain modulation were evaluated. RESULTS: The clinical presentation of pain revealed long persistence 17.5±7.4 months; predominant in the lower limbs (45.5%); mean intensity (5.5±2.1); mild to moderate affective-emotional changes; moderate kinesophobia (46±6.5) and low overall perception of improvement (1.5±2.5). The Beck Depression Inventory and the visual analog scale for anxiety showed little change. Quality of life presented mild to moderate impairment, and pain modulation showed a slight increase in the pressure pain threshold (6.3%). CONCLUSION: The chronic phase of the chikungunya virus infection is characterized by persistent moderate-intensity pain, both in sensory and affective levels, with moderate kinesophobia, worsening of quality of life, perception of poor post-infection recovery, and a decrease in the pain descending inhibitory pathways.