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The following is a summary of “Identification of health trajectories of patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 using latent class trajectory methods,” published in the December 2024 issue of Pain by Ounajim et al. 

Persistent spinal pain syndrome Type 2 (PSPS-T2) is a chronic condition with long-term effects, yet current studies often fail to capture its full impact by focusing on a single time point or short period.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study using latent class trajectory models to identify clusters of patients with different trajectories of PSPS-T2.  

They used data from the PREDIBACK focused on patients with PSPS-T2, tracking the outcomes every 3 months over 1 year. Health status was assessed using a new multidimensional clinical response index (MCRI). The health status trajectories were identified through a mixture of mixed-effect models.  

The results showed 200 patients with PSPS-T2 were included, 2 clusters were identified: 63.1% had a ‘persistent low health’ trajectory, while 36.9% experienced an ‘improving health’ trajectory. Factors linked to improving health included younger age, lower body mass index, reduced pain intensity, lower functional disability, less anxiety, and a smaller pain surface area.  

Investigators concluded the clustering methods identified 2 distinct groups of patients with PSPS-T2: one-third experienced symptom improvement within a year, as compared to two-thirds. 

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejp.4762