SynthesisInflammopharmacology2024
Effect of use of NSAIDs or steroids during the acute phase of pain on the incidence of chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials.
Synthesis in Inflammopharmacology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Chemical profiling of Egregia menziesii and anti-inflammatory potential in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages.Molecular biology reports · 2026Article
- Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine Exercise Versus Oral Medication in the Treatment of Neck Pain: Study Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Clarifying Molecular Mechanisms and Novel Strategies for Intervention of Uremia and Cognitive Decline.Kidney & blood pressure research · 2026Review
- Phytochemical Compounds fromPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study is the first to summarize the evidence on how the use of anti-inflammatory drugs during acute pain has an impact on the development of chronic pain.
methodsRandomized controlled trials retrieved from nine databases included anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs or steroids) versus non-anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with acute pain and reported the incidence of chronic pain. No specified date, age, sex, or language restrictions. Subgroup analyses were performed according to pain classification, follow-up time, and medication. The GRADE method was used to evaluate quality of evidence.
resultsA total of 29 trials (5220 patients) were included. Steroids or NSAIDs did not reduce the incidence of chronic nociceptive pain. Steroid use in acute phase significantly reduced the incidence of chronic neuropathic pain. In subgroup analysis, benefits were observed for methylprednisolone and dexamethasone, with some adverse effects. Steroids or NSAIDs were statistically significant in reducing pain intensity over 1 year, but the effect size was too small, and whether the long-term effect is clinically relevant needs to be further studied.
conclusionQuality of the evidence was low to moderate. No drug can be recommended to prevent chronic nociceptive pain. Injections of steroids (methylprednisolone or dexamethasone) during the acute phase reduce the incidence of chronic neuropathic pain, but most included studies also used local anesthetics. The results are indirect and need to be interpreted with caution. The pooled data effect sizes for pain intensity were small, so the clinical relevance was unclear. Study registration PROSPERO (CRD42022367030).
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