Highlights
- •Estimates of chronic pain prevalence vary, depending the operational definition of “chronic.”
- •“Persistent pain” is a more consistent and precise way to measure health-related quality of life.
- •Persistent pain is operationally defined as constant or frequent pain lasting at least 3 months.
- •An estimated 39.4 million adults in the U.S. reported persistent pain in 2010.
- •This population clearly has unmet needs for pain management and is a public health priority.
Abstract
Published adult prevalence estimates of chronic pain in the United States vary significantly.
A more consistent pain measure is needed to assess unmet need for pain management
in the general population. In this study, secondary analyses of the 2010 Quality of
Life Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey are used to calculate the
point prevalence of “persistent pain,” which we defined as constant or frequent pain
persisting for at least 3 months. Rates of persistent pain are also calculated by
risk group, chronic condition, and disability status. Findings show that about 19.0%
of adults in the United States report persistent pain. Rates of persistent pain are
higher among women, adults aged 60 to 69, adults who rate their health as fair or
poor, adults who are overweight or obese, and those who were hospitalized 1 or more
times in the preceding year. Most adults who report conditions such as arthritis,
carpal tunnel syndrome, or back or joint pain do not describe their pain as “persistent.”
Of the estimated 39.4 million adults who report persistent pain, 67.2% say their pain
is “constantly present,” and 50.5% say their pain is sometimes “unbearable and excruciating.”
Perspective
Persistent pain, defined as self-reported pain “every day” or “most days” in the preceding
3 months, is a useful way to characterize health-related quality of life in the general
population, and policy makers should consider including this core measure in ongoing
health surveys like the National Health Interview Survey and the Medical Expenditure
Panel Survey, the authors conclude.
Key words
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Article info
Footnotes
The Program of Excellence in Rural Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment, funded by the Washington Life Sciences Discovery Fund (grant no. LSDF 08-02; John Roll, principal investigator), sponsored this work.
No conflicts of interest exist between any of the authors, contributors, funding entities, research groups, or associated individuals or parties.
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Copyright
© 2014 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
