Clinical and demographical profile of chronic muscleskeletal pain patients assisted at Brazilian Health Public System

The purpose of this study is to determine the demographic and clinical profile of patients with muscle-skeletal chronic pain. One hundred and fifty patients were evaluated, being divided in three groups according to the clinical setting of origin: Basic Unit of Health (BUH), City Specialty Clinic (CSC) and University Clinic (UC).It was observed a strong female predominance in the three groups.(BUH - 74%; CSC - 66%; UC - 80%). The observed age distribution showed that most of the patients from BUH were above 60 years old (50%) and most patients of the other two units were between 41 and 60 years old. In relation to joint distribution, most part of patients at the BHU presented with involvement of less than 4 joints (60%) and at the UC more than 4 joints (60%). At the CSC, most of the complains were localized at the vertebral spine. Unspecific diagnoses were reported more often at the BUH (40%) than at the CSC (20%) and UC (16%). There were less discontinuation of treatment at the UC in relation to the BUH and CSC. At the BHU 28% of patients reported continuous treatment in comparison to 74% of the CSC and 92% at UC. At worsening of pain, most patients of BHU used self-medication, while at the CSC and UC patients followed medical prescription. It was concluded that the secondary and tertiary levels of health institutions (CSC, UC) are able to treat pain patients with diseases of higher complexity.O objetivo desse estudo é determinar o perfil demográfico e clínico dos pacientes dor crônica. Avaliou-se 150 pessoas no Centro de Saúde Escola (CSE) (50), na Policlínica Municipal de Sorocaba (50) e no Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba (CHS) (50). Observou-se forte predominância do sexo feminino nas três unidades avaliadas (CSE - 74%; POLICLÍNICA - 66%; CHS - 80%). Em relação a idade houve um predomínio da faixa acima dos 60 anos no CSE (50%) e da faixa entre 41 e 60 anos na Policlínica (52%) e CHS (50%). Quanto à distribuição articular, houve um predomínio da dor oligoarticular no CSE (60%) e de distribuição poliarticular no CHS (60%). Na Policlínica a maioria das queixas se concentrou na coluna vertebral (52%), No CSE (40%) um maior número de pacientes referiu desconhecer um diagnóstico estabelecido em relação aos pacientes da Policlínica (20%) e do CHS (16%).Observa-se, maior continuidade no tratamento no CHS em relação ao CSE e Policlínica. No CSE 28% dos pacientes referiam manter tratamento contínuo em comparação com 74% na POLICLÍNICA e 92% no CHS. Nas agudizações, os pacientes do CSE tomam remédio por conta própria em sua maioria, enquanto que grande parte dos pacientes da Policlínica e do CHS tomam remédio conforme orientação médica. Concluí - se que as unidades secundárias e terciárias de atendimento público a saúde estão aptas a atender casos de maior complexidade e, portanto, em número insuficiente para atender a demanda