Pain in CF: Review of the literature

BackgroundThis review evaluated pain research in cystic fibrosis (CF).MethodsOVID MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Web of Science, Pubmed, PsychINFO and PsychARTICLES were searched from January 1995-December 2012 to locate papers assessing pain in CF. A proforma was used to record the rationale for the study, characteristics of the sample, pain assessment tools, pain location, frequency and severity, treatment/self-management, coping and the impact on daily activities and quality of life.ResultsAll studies (n = 13) were retrospective. Chest and abdominal pains were most commonly reported. Pain was negatively associated with pulmonary exacerbations, quality of life and treatment adherence. Approximately 50% of patients do not consult their GP or CF team about pain, with many patients reporting self-management.ConclusionA high incidence of pain is reported in CF although there is little standardization of CF pain measurement. The way forward is to develop guidelines on how to assess pain and provide adequate treatment for pain in CF.