AB226. SOH25_AB_074. Qutenza and quality of life, pain interference, and pain intensity for peripheral neuropathic pain

Background: Peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) can severely impact quality of life and daily activities. Qutenza^® (8% capsaicin patch) has emerged as a potential treatment for localized PNP, offering targeted pain relief through high-concentration capsaicin. This project aimed to audit the effects of Qutenza on quality of life, pain interference, and pain intensity for patients with localized PNP.

Methods: A retrospective audit was conducted on data collected from 100 subsequent Qutenza applications for localized PNP over a six-month period. Data on quality of life, pain interference, and pain intensity were collected at baseline, at 15-minute intervals intra-treatment, on completion and on two week follow up. Quality of life was measured using the Quality of Life Score (QOLS), pain interference through the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), and pain intensity via the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Descriptive statistics were used to assess changes from baseline.

Results: The audit revealed significant improvements across all measures. QOLS scores demonstrated enhanced quality of life. BPI scores indicated a significant reduction in pain interference, particularly in general activity, mobility and relationships. NRS scores decreased by an average of 3.2 points from baseline to two weeks’ post-treatment.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that Qutenza is effective in managing localized PNP, contributing to substantial improvements in quality of life and reductions in pain interference and intensity. This audit supports the use of Qutenza as a viable option for localized PNP and highlights the need for further research to confirm these results in larger and more diverse patient populations.

Keywords: Interference; neuropathic; pain; quality; Qutenza