• Jun Hozumi, Masahiko Sumitani, Yoshitaka Matsubayashi, Hiroaki Abe, Yasushi Oshima, Hirotaka Chikuda, Katsushi Takeshita, and Yoshitsugu Yamada.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
• Pain Res Manag. 2016 Jan 1; 2016: 2487924.

AbstractObjectives. Overweight negatively affects musculoskeletal health; hence obesity is considered a risk factor for osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. This was conducted to determine if obesity affects neuropathic pain, usually considered unrelated to the weight-load on the musculoskeletal system. Methods. Using a cut-off body mass index value of 25, 44 patients with neuropathic pain were grouped into a "high-BMI" group and a "normal-BMI" group. Results. The numeric rating scale of the high-BMI group was significantly higher than that of the normal-weight group (P < 0.05). The total NPSI scores were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the paroxysmal pain and the negative symptoms were more serious in the high-BMI group than in the normal-BMI group. The high-BMI subjects also had significantly higher SF-MPQ scores (P < 0.05). However, both physical and mental health status on the SF-36 were comparable between the groups. Discussion. Neuropathic pain that did not arise from musculoskeletal damage was higher in the high-BMI patients. Paroxysmal pain was more severe, suggesting that neural damage might be aggravated by obesity-associated inflammation. These findings should have needed to be confirmed in future studies.

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