The role of biological sex in neurophysiological associations of patients with chronic osteoarthritis pain: a prospective cross-sectional study
Our study suggests that sex is a confounder and effect modifier mainly in the relationship between neurophysiological variables and pain-related outcomes in a chronic OA pain population. Females may have weaker associations between pain intensity and mechanistic outcomes (EEG and QST). Thus, the use of these biomarkers in females requires further optimization. We therefore reinforce the need for accounting for biological sex in the analysis, not only as a confounder, but as an effect modifier in further randomized trials and observational studies in the field of pain.
Authors
- Linamara Rizzo Battistella (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5275-0733)
- Paola Gonzalez‐Mego (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2382-2061)
- Marta Imamura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0355-9697)
- Sara Pinto Barbosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9802-9674)
- Kevin Pacheco‐Barrios (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7166-2816)
- Marcel Simis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1656-9659)
- Paulo S. de Melo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2387-8970)
- Karen Vásquez-Ávila
- Ingrid Rebello‐Sanchez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1465-1117)
- Felipe Fregni
Institutions
- Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (PE)
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (US)
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology (English Edition)
- Published
- 2025-05-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjane.2025.844639
- Primary Topic
- Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo