Pain epidemiology and health related quality of life in chronic non-malignant pain patients referred to a Danish multidisciplinary pain center

Pain. 1997 Dec;73(3):393-400. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3959(97)00126-7.

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a detailed study of the pain epidemiology and health related quality of life (HRQL) in 150 chronic non-malignant pain patients consecutively referred to a Danish multidisciplinary pain center. Mean pain severity was 71.6 (SD = 18.5) on the VAS scale. Forty-two percent reported poor quality of sleep. HRQL was evaluated with the Medical Outcome Study-Short Form (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) and the Psychological General Well-Being Scale (PGWB). Compared with the normal population (NP) both SF-36 scores and PGWB scores were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) indicating that physical, psychological and social well-being were severely reduced. On the HAD scale 58% were found to have a depressive or anxiety disorder. Statistically significant but modest correlations were found between pain severity and HRQL. Psychological and social well-being was closely correlated. Sixty-three percent of the referred patients had neurogenic pain conditions. Of these, only 25% were treated with antidepressants or anticonvulsants at referral. Seventy-three percent were treated with opioids at referral. Mean opioid consumption was 64 mg of morphine per day (range 1-280 mg). Compared with the NP the chronic pain patients had used the health care system five times more often in the years prior to referral (P < 0.001). The study confirms the severe multidimensional impact of chronic pain and demonstrates that HRQL of chronic non-malignant pain patients is among the lowest observed for any medical condition.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Chronic Disease
  • Demography
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / epidemiology*
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pain Clinics*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sleep / physiology
  • Socioeconomic Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid