International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the early lockdown phases of COVID-19, people found it challenging to manage pain because they feared contracting the virus from receiving healthcare support. Sadly, people who suffer from chronic pain sometimes run out of medications such as opioids; they are stressed and face various physical and psychological complications resulting from inadequate pain relief and withdrawal syndromes. Therefore, physicians implemented alternative arrangements (such as telemedicine) for prescribing opioids and other restricted medications for chronic pain management later in the pandemic era. In addition, people that contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus sometimes face inflammatory pain syndromes. Apart from COVID-19, people were stressed due to insecure jobs, losses in business, losses of relatives or family members, and many other reasons, and all of these can affect the acceleration of chronic pain conditions such as arthritis and other inflammatory and neuropathic pain. At this moment, the actual impact of COVID-19 on the genesis of chronic inflammatory or neuropathic pain conditions is unclear. Has the pandemic exacerbated the number of chronic pain patients by triggering the cytokine storm? How are pain medications (including opioids) used to manage chronic pain, and have these cured pain or caused additional adverse effects due to inappropriate use? This Special Issue is seeking articles (original research, narratives, and systematic reviews) focusing on proper chronic pain management, particularly on ensuring public health.

Dr. Alok K. Paul
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

chronic pain
inflammatory pain
opioids
pain management
cytokines
COVID-19
public health
SARS-CoV-2

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends in Prescription Chronic Pain Medication Use before and during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Québec, Canada: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

by Gwenaëlle De Clifford-Faugère, Hermine Lore Nguena Nguefack, Manon Choinière, M. Gabrielle Pagé, Lucie Blais, Line Guénette, Marc Dorais and Anaïs Lacasse

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(15), 6493; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156493 - 1 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1314

Abstract

Background: In Canada, a state of health emergency was declared in May 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess trends in the use of prescription medication for pain management by people living with chronic pain before and during the first wave of the pandemic. Methods: Participants (n = 177) were adults reporting chronic pain who had completed a web-based questionnaire in 2019 and for whom complete longitudinal private and public insurance prescription claims were available. The monthly prevalence of medication use for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and prescribed cannabinoids was assessed. An interrupted time series analysis was then performed to evaluate if the COVID-19 pandemic had had an impact on trends in pain medication use. Results: The beginning of the first wave of the pandemic was associated with the onset of a downward trend in opioid use (p < 0.05); no such association was found regarding NSAIDs. However, point prevalence of opioid use at the beginning (Nov. 2019) and at the end (Mai 2020) of the study period remained somewhat stable (17.0% vs. 16.4%). Regarding prescribed cannabinoids, a gradual increase in use was observed over the entire study period independently from the impact of the first wave of the pandemic (15.3% vs. 22.6%, p < 0.05). Conclusion: While the occurrence of the first wave did have an impact on opioid use among people living with chronic pain, access to and use of opioids appear to have returned to normal before the end of the first wave of COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Opioid Use, Pain Management, and Public Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 2365 KiB

Open AccessReview

Are Fermented Foods Effective against Inflammatory Diseases?

by Alok K. Paul, Chooi Ling Lim, Md. Aminul Islam Apu, Karma G. Dolma, Madhu Gupta, Maria de Lourdes Pereira, Polrat Wilairatana, Mohammed Rahmatullah, Christophe Wiart and Veeranoot Nissapatorn

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2481; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032481 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3884

Abstract

Fermented foods have been used over the centuries in various parts of the world. These foods are rich in nutrients and are produced naturally using various biological tools like bacteria and fungi. Fermentation of edible foods has been rooted in ancient cultures to keep food for preservation and storage for a long period of time with desired or enhanced nutritional values. Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and chronic inflammatory pain are chronic disorders that are difficult to treat, and current treatments for these disorders fail due to various adverse effects of prescribed medications over a long period of time. Fermented foods containing probiotic bacteria and fungi can enhance the immune system, improve gastrointestinal health, and lower the risk of developing various inflammatory diseases. Foods prepared from vegetables by fermentation, like kimchi, sauerkraut, soy-based foods, or turmeric, lack proper clinical and translational experimental studies. The current review has focused on the effectiveness of various fermented foods or drinks used over centuries against inflammation, arthritis, and oxidative stress. We also described potential limitations on the efficacies or usages of these fermented products to provide an overarching picture of the research field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Opioid Use, Pain Management, and Public Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Opioid Use, Pain Management, and Public Health

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (2 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI