BACKGROUND: Women veterans are a growing but understudied population believed to be at increased risk for pain problems. Because of risk factors and clinical observations, we hypothesized that women veterans might have a high prevalence of pain and, thus, sought to determine the prevalence of (and age-related variations in) pain and to characterize several key pain dimensions in a sample of women veterans. METHODS: Women with routine appointments at the VA Connecticut Women's Health Center were recruited for study. Participants completed a 59-item questionnaire that provided information about their demographic, clinical, and pain status, as well as use of health services. RESULTS: Of 236 women approached, 213 (89%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 52 years, and most (78%) reported an ongoing pain problem. For those reporting pain, the mean duration of pain was 6 years, average pain intensity was 6.3 (range 1-10), and commonly endorsed pain sites included lower extremity (68%), low back (63%), and shoulder (48%). The most frequently endorsed treatment (by 80%) was analgesic medication use. Across the four age categories (20-35, 36-50, 51-65, and > or =66 years), pain prevalences were 64%, 89%, 83%, and 69%, respectively. Although pain intensity levels did not vary across age groups, older women (> or =66) reported using fewer pain treatments, including analgesic medications. Finally, those with (vs. those without) pain reported a greater number of medical and mental health visits in the preceding year. CONCLUSIONS: This study documented a significantly high prevalence of pain among a sample of women veterans receiving primary care in a VA women's health clinic.
BACKGROUND:Women veterans are a growing but understudied population believed to be at increased risk for pain problems. Because of risk factors and clinical observations, we hypothesized that women veterans might have a high prevalence of pain and, thus, sought to determine the prevalence of (and age-related variations in) pain and to characterize several key pain dimensions in a sample of women veterans. METHODS:Women with routine appointments at the VA Connecticut Women's Health Center were recruited for study. Participants completed a 59-item questionnaire that provided information about their demographic, clinical, and pain status, as well as use of health services. RESULTS: Of 236 women approached, 213 (89%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 52 years, and most (78%) reported an ongoing pain problem. For those reporting pain, the mean duration of pain was 6 years, average pain intensity was 6.3 (range 1-10), and commonly endorsed pain sites included lower extremity (68%), low back (63%), and shoulder (48%). The most frequently endorsed treatment (by 80%) was analgesic medication use. Across the four age categories (20-35, 36-50, 51-65, and > or =66 years), pain prevalences were 64%, 89%, 83%, and 69%, respectively. Although pain intensity levels did not vary across age groups, older women (> or =66) reported using fewer pain treatments, including analgesic medications. Finally, those with (vs. those without) pain reported a greater number of medical and mental health visits in the preceding year. CONCLUSIONS: This study documented a significantly high prevalence of pain among a sample of women veterans receiving primary care in a VA women's health clinic.
Authors: Melissa B Weimer; Tara A Macey; Christina Nicolaidis; Steven K Dobscha; Jonathan P Duckart; Benjamin J Morasco Journal: Pain Med Date: 2013-06-26 Impact factor: 3.750
Authors: Alexander K Ommaya; Kenneth M Adams; Richard M Allman; Eileen G Collins; Rory A Cooper; C Edward Dixon; Paul S Fishman; James A Henry; Randy Kardon; Robert D Kerns; Joel Kupersmith; Albert Lo; Richard Macko; Rachel McArdle; Regina E McGlinchey; Malcolm R McNeil; Thomas P O'Toole; P Hunter Peckham; Mark H Tuszynski; Stephen G Waxman; George F Wittenberg Journal: J Rehabil Res Dev Date: 2013
Authors: Rhonda M Williams; Dawn M Ehde; Melissa Day; Aaron P Turner; Shahin Hakimian; Kevin Gertz; Marcia Ciol; Alisha McCall; Carrie Kincaid; Mark W Pettet; David Patterson; Pradeep Suri; Mark P Jensen Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2020-01-09 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Una E Makris; Mary Jo Pugh; Carlos A Alvarez; Dan R Berlowitz; Barbara J Turner; KoKo Aung; Eric M Mortensen Journal: Am J Med Sci Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 2.378