Evaluation of Cold Pressor Pain Response and Pain Catastrophization in a Healthy Nigerian Adult Population

AH Umar; A Mohammed; JO Ayo; NM Danjuma; AS Isa; I Suleiman; MS Muhammad; AU Muhammad; A Muhammad; Y Yusha'u; AA Ishaku

doi:10.5281/zenodo.5809673

Authors

AH Umar Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
A Mohammed Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
JO Ayo Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
NM Danjuma Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
AS Isa Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
I Suleiman Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
MS Muhammad Department of Human Physiology
AU Muhammad Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
A Muhammad Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
Y Yusha'u Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
AA Ishaku Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State

DOI:

: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5809673

Keywords:

Cold pressor pain, Pain catastrophizing, Nigerian adults, Sex

Abstract

Background: Inter-individual variability in pain perception is an area of research interest to scientists due to its complexity and compounding nature. Dispositional characteristics have been known to influence pain response, a difference attributed to bio-psycho-social factors. In this study, differences in experimental cold pressor pain response and pain catastrophizing were evaluated among healthy adult population in Zaria, Nigeria. Methodology: A total of 161 apparently healthy subjects volunteered for the study. Cold pressor pain was induced by asking subjects to immerse their non-dominant hand in cold water at 2 4 0C. Cut off time was 5 minutes. Pain catastrophizing was assessed using the visual analogue scale. Result: There was no significant effect of sex, age and ethnicity on cold pressor pain threshold and tolerance among the studied population, but females catastrophized more than males. Conclusion: Sex, age and ethnicity have no effects on cold pressor pain response among healthy adults in Zaria, Nigeria, but pain catastrophizing is higher in females than in males.