Consensus recommendations for pain phenotyping in people with Diabetes Mellitus: an international & interdisciplinary study using the nominal group technique

• Grant number: 23/11825-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Paula Rezende Camargo
• Grantee: Julia Kortstee Ferreira
• Supervisor: Jo Nijs
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/01771-7 - Shoulder assessment in individuals with Diabetes Mellitus: cross-sectional and longitudinal study, BP.DD

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a global health concern affecting over half a billion people and leading to serious complications with high treatment costs and reduced quality of life. Musculoskeletal pain is a common problem reported in patients with DM, impacting their daily activities and healthcare utilization. Pain is a complex phenomenon categorized into nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic, with the latter being a recent addition. However, there is limited research on pain phenotypes in patients with DM. Precision medicine, which tailors treatment plans based on individual characteristics, has been successful in other populations, and accurate phenotyping is crucial as different pain mechanisms require specific management approaches. This study aims to describe the pain phenotypes in people with DM and to develop international and interdisciplinary consensus recommendations on how to identify and manage the different pain phenotypes in the population with DM based on the Nominal Group technique. The existing literature related to pain in patients with DM will be analyzed and the description of pain phenotypes in this population will be built with cases representations. Thereafter, a Network will be created by approaching professionals with expertise in pain and DM, following the Nominal Group technique, to elaborate recommendations of how clinicians can identify the predominant pain phenotype in patients with DM, and adapt pain management strategies accordingly. We expect that the description of pain phenotypes and the recommendations will help health professionals and patients to properly manage DM-related pain, consequently reducing costs for health services since more effective treatment approaches could be employed. (AU)