Table 1.
Characteristics of the study population.
| Confirmed cases (n = 168) | Total (n = 198) | |
|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | |
| Social characteristics | ||
| Sex | ||
| Male | 28 (16.7) | 36 (18.2) |
| Female | 140 (83.3) | 162 (81.8) |
| Location of residence | ||
| British Columbia | 23 (13.7) | 29 (14.6) |
| Quebec | 33 (19.6) | 35 (17.8) |
| Ontario | 85 (50.6) | 98 (49.5) |
| Prairie provinces (AB, SK, and MB) | 22 (13.1) | 28 (14.1) |
| Atlantic provinces (NB, NS, PE, and NL) | 5 (3.0) | 8 (4.0) |
| Ethnicity | ||
| White | 126 (75.0) | 151 (76.3) |
| Non-White | 26 (15.5) | 28 (14.1) |
| Unknown | 16 (9.5) | 19 (9.6) |
| Clinical features | ||
| Age at diagnosis, y | ||
| Mean (SD) | 12.2 (2.4) | 12.8 (2.5) |
| Median (min-max) | 12.9 (7.0-18.0) | 12.9 (7.0-19) |
| Onset to diagnosis, mo | ||
| Mean (SD) | 5.6 (9.9) | 5.6 (10.0) |
| Median (IQR) | 2.0 (4.0) | 2.0 (4.0) |
| Diagnosing professional | ||
| General pediatrician | 22 (13.1) | 27 (13.6) |
| Pain clinic team members | 55 (32.7) | 63 (31.8) |
| Pediatric rheumatologist | 23 (13.7) | 28 (14.1) |
| Orthopedic surgeon | 20 (11.9) | 25 (12.6) |
| General or pediatric emergency physician | 13 (7.7) | 14 (7.1) |
| Others | 35 (20.8) | 41 (20.7) |
| Localization at diagnosis (more than one possible) | ||
| Right | 74 (44.0) | 86 (43.4) |
| Left | 78 (46.4) | 87 (43.9) |
| Bilateral | 13 (7.7) | 18 (9.0) |
| Upper limb | 36 (21.4) | 43 (21.7) |
| Lower limb | 134 (79.8) | 153 (77.2) |
| Others or unknown | <5 | <5 |
| Number of sites affected | ||
| Single site | 150 (89.3) | 171 (86.3) |
| Multiple sites | 15 (8.9) | 22 (11.1) |
| Others or unknown | <5 | 7 (3.5) |
| Inciting or triggering event | ||
| None | 33 (19.6) | 40 (20.2) |
| Trauma or injury | 110 (65.5) | 128 (64.6) |
| Operation or surgery | 12 (7.1) | 14 (7.1) |
| Others | 6 (3.6) | 8 (4.0) |
| Unknown | 7 (4.2) | 8 (4.0) |
| Family history | ||
| CRPS affecting the first degree relative | <5 | <5 |
| Pain intensity | ||
| Mild | 6 (3.6) | 12 (6.1) |
| Moderate | 52 (31.0) | 59 (29.8) |
| Severe | 97 (57.7) | 109 (55.1) |
| Missing | 13 (7.7) | 18 (9.1) |
| Functional impact of symptoms | ||
| Impact on the following (yes) | ||
| Physical activity | 157 (93.5) | 182 (91.9) |
| Sleep | 91 (54.2) | 103 (52.0) |
| School achievement | 54 (32.1) | 61 (30.8) |
| Social activities | 91 (54.2) | 104 (52.5) |
| Family function | 68 (40.5) | 77 (38.9) |
| Mood | 84 (50.0) | 98 (49.5) |
| High level sport | 53 (31.5) | 64 (32.3) |
| Enrolled in home or cyber or online school as a result of pain | 10 (6.0) | 11 (5.6) |
| Amount of school missed (choose one) | ||
| None | 47 (28.0) | 53 (26.8) |
| <2 wk | 43 (25.6) | 47 (23.7) |
| 2-4 wk | 16 (9.5) | 20 (10.1) |
| 1-3 mo | 14 (8.3) | 16 (8.1) |
| >3 mo | 12 (7.1) | 15 (7.6) |
| Unknown or missing | 36 (21.4) | 47 (23.6) |
| Personal history (more than one possible) | ||
| Conversion disorder | <5 | <5 |
| Prematurity | <5 | <5 |
| Rheumatologic condition or arthritis | 5 (3.0) | 5 (2.5) |
| CRPS | 7 (4.1) | 8 (4.0) |
| Hypermobility | 9 (5.3) | |
| ADHD | 13 (7.7) | 15 (7.6) |
| Learning disability (modified class) | 18 (10.7) | 20 (10.1) |
| Migraine headache | 20 (11.9) | 24 (12.1) |
| Mood or anxiety disorder | 42 (25.0) | 51 (25.8) |
| Personal history (others) | ||
| Neurologic disorder | 9 (5.3) | 10 (5.1) |
| Orthopedic disorder | 6 (3.5) | 7 (3.5) |
| Other mental health disorders | 5 (3.0) | 6 (3.0) |
| Other medical disorders | 11 (6.5) | 13 (6.5) |
| Other pain disorders | 20 (11.9) | 21 (10.6) |
| Adverse outcomes | ||
| Withdrawal from treatment because of exacerbated pain | 9 (5.3) | 9 (4.6) |
| Accidental overdose of pain medications | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Suicide attempt | <5 | 5 (2.5) |
| Prescription misuse (eg, diversion and early renewal) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Use of street drugs (eg, cannabis and gabapentin) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; CRPS, complex regional pain syndrome; IQR, interquartile range.