OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain is a common reason for seeking medical care. We estimated the prevalence of chronic regional and widespread pain in the United States population overall, and by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. SETTING: We examined the data from 10,291 respondents who participated in the 1999-2002 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and completed a pain questionnaire. Items allowed classification of chronic (>or=3 months) pain as regional or widespread. We used regression models to test the association of sex and race/ethnicity with each pain outcome, adjusting for age. RESULTS: Chronic pain prevalence estimates were 10.1% for back pain, 7.1% for pain in the legs/feet, 4.1% for pain in the arms/hands, and 3.5% for headache. Chronic regional and widespread pain were reported by 11.0% and 3.6% of respondents, respectively. Women had higher odds than men for headache, abdominal pain, and chronic widespread pain. Mexican-Americans had lower odds compared with non-Hispanic whites and blacks for chronic back pain, legs/feet pain, arms/hands pain, and regional and widespread pain. CONCLUSION: The population prevalence of chronic pain in the United States was lower than previously reported, with smaller sex-related differences and some variation by race/ethnicity.
OBJECTIVE:Chronic pain is a common reason for seeking medical care. We estimated the prevalence of chronic regional and widespread pain in the United States population overall, and by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. SETTING: We examined the data from 10,291 respondents who participated in the 1999-2002 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and completed a pain questionnaire. Items allowed classification of chronic (>or=3 months) pain as regional or widespread. We used regression models to test the association of sex and race/ethnicity with each pain outcome, adjusting for age. RESULTS:Chronic pain prevalence estimates were 10.1% for back pain, 7.1% for pain in the legs/feet, 4.1% for pain in the arms/hands, and 3.5% for headache. Chronic regional and widespread pain were reported by 11.0% and 3.6% of respondents, respectively. Women had higher odds than men for headache, abdominal pain, and chronic widespread pain. Mexican-Americans had lower odds compared with non-Hispanic whites and blacks for chronic back pain, legs/feet pain, arms/hands pain, and regional and widespread pain. CONCLUSION: The population prevalence of chronic pain in the United States was lower than previously reported, with smaller sex-related differences and some variation by race/ethnicity.
Authors: Linda H Eaton; Debra B Gordon; Sheryl Wyant; Brian R Theodore; Alexa R Meins; Tessa Rue; Cara Towle; David Tauben; Ardith Z Doorenbos Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2014-05-17 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Teresa D Schmidt; J David Haddox; Alexandra E Nielsen; Wayne Wakeland; John Fitzgerald Journal: J Behav Health Serv Res Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 1.505