Saxer, Franziska, Hollinger, Alexa, Bjurström, Martin, Neogi, Tuhina, Conaghan, Philip, Schieker, Matthias and Berenbaum, Francis (2024) Pain-Phenotyping in Osteoarthritis: Current Concepts, Evidence, and Considerations towards a Comprehensive Framework for Assessment and Treatment. osteoarthritis and cartilage open.

Abstract

Objectives
Pain as central symptom of osteoarthritis (OA) needs to be addressed as part of successful treatment. The assessment of pain as feature of disease or outcome in clinical practice and drug development remains a challenge due to its multidimensionality and the plethora of confounders. This article aims at providing insights into our understanding of OA pain-phenotypes and suggests a framework for systematic and comprehensive assessments.

Methods
This narrative review is based on a search of current literature for various combinations of the search terms “pain-phenotype” and “knee OA” and summarizes current knowledge on OA pain-phenotypes, putting OA pain and its assessment into perspective of current research efforts.

Results
Pain is a complex phenomenon, not necessarily associated with tissue damage. Various pain-phenotypes have been described in knee OA. Among those, a phenotype with high pain levels not necessarily matching structural changes and a phenotype with low pain levels and impact are relatively consistent. Further subgroups can be differentiated based on patient reported outcome measures, assessments of comorbidities, anxiety and depression, sleep, activity and objective measures such as quantitative sensory testing.

Conclusions
The complexity of both OA as disease and pain in OA prompt the definition of a set of variables that facilitate assessments comparable across studies to maximize our understanding of pain, as central concern for the patient.

Item Type:	Article
Date Deposited:	26 Jan 2024 00:45
Last Modified:	26 Jan 2024 00:46
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/50512