TY - JOUR
T1 - Common Chronic Pain Conditions in Developed and Developing Countries
T2 - Gender and Age Differences and Comorbidity With Depression-Anxiety Disorders
AU - Tsang, Adley
AU - Von Korff, Michael
AU - Lee, Sing
AU - Alonso, Jordi
AU - Karam, Elie
AU - Angermeyer, Matthias C.
AU - Borges, Guilherme Luiz Guimaraes
AU - Bromet, Evelyn J.
AU - de Girolamo, Giovanni
AU - de Graaf, Ron
AU - Gureje, Oye
AU - Lepine, Jean Pierre
AU - Haro, Josep Maria
AU - Levinson, Daphna
AU - Oakley Browne, Mark A.
AU - Posada-Villa, Jose
AU - Seedat, Soraya
AU - Watanabe, Makoto
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - Although there is a growing body of research concerning the prevalence and correlates of chronic pain conditions and their association with mental disorders, cross-national research on age and gender differences is limited. The present study reports the prevalence by age and gender of common chronic pain conditions (headache, back or neck pain, arthritis or joint pain, and other chronic pain) in 10 developed and 7 developing countries and their association with the spectrum of both depressive and anxiety disorders. It draws on data from 18 general adult population surveys using a common survey questionnaire (N = 42,249). Results show that age-standardized prevalence of chronic pain conditions in the previous 12 months was 37.3% in developed countries and 41.1% in developing countries, with back pain and headache being somewhat more common in developing than developed countries. After controlling for comorbid chronic physical diseases, several findings were consistent across developing and developed countries. There was a higher prevalence of chronic pain conditions among females and older persons; and chronic pain was similarly associated with depression-anxiety spectrum disorders in developed and developing countries. However, the large majority of persons reporting chronic pain did not meet criteria for depression or anxiety disorder. We conclude that common pain conditions affect a large percentage of persons in both developed and developing countries. Perspective: Chronic pain conditions are common in both developed and developing countries. Overall, the prevalence of pain is greater among females and among older persons. Although most persons reporting pain do not meet criteria for a depressive or anxiety disorder, depression/anxiety spectrum disorders are associated with pain in both developed and developing countries.
AB - Although there is a growing body of research concerning the prevalence and correlates of chronic pain conditions and their association with mental disorders, cross-national research on age and gender differences is limited. The present study reports the prevalence by age and gender of common chronic pain conditions (headache, back or neck pain, arthritis or joint pain, and other chronic pain) in 10 developed and 7 developing countries and their association with the spectrum of both depressive and anxiety disorders. It draws on data from 18 general adult population surveys using a common survey questionnaire (N = 42,249). Results show that age-standardized prevalence of chronic pain conditions in the previous 12 months was 37.3% in developed countries and 41.1% in developing countries, with back pain and headache being somewhat more common in developing than developed countries. After controlling for comorbid chronic physical diseases, several findings were consistent across developing and developed countries. There was a higher prevalence of chronic pain conditions among females and older persons; and chronic pain was similarly associated with depression-anxiety spectrum disorders in developed and developing countries. However, the large majority of persons reporting chronic pain did not meet criteria for depression or anxiety disorder. We conclude that common pain conditions affect a large percentage of persons in both developed and developing countries. Perspective: Chronic pain conditions are common in both developed and developing countries. Overall, the prevalence of pain is greater among females and among older persons. Although most persons reporting pain do not meet criteria for a depressive or anxiety disorder, depression/anxiety spectrum disorders are associated with pain in both developed and developing countries.
KW - age difference
KW - anxiety disorders
KW - Chronic pain
KW - comorbidity
KW - depression
KW - gender difference
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpain.2008.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jpain.2008.05.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 18602869
AN - SCOPUS:52349113159
VL - 9
SP - 883
EP - 891
JO - Journal of Pain
JF - Journal of Pain
SN - 1526-5900
IS - 10
ER -