Article

OBJECTIVE: To explore how demographics, pain, psychosocial factors and insomnia
relate to the spread of chronic pain. METHODS: The study included 708 patients
(68% women; median age 46 years; interquartile range 35-57 years) with chronic
pain who were referred to a multidisciplinary pain centre. Spreading of pain was
assessed using a questionnaire covering 36 anatomically predefined pain regions.
Data were collected on demographics, pain symptoms, psychological distress, and
insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index). Four sub-categories of chronic pain were
established: chronic local pain, chronic regional pain medium, chronic regional
pain heavy, and chronic widespread pain. RESULTS:
The median number of pain
regions was 10 (interquartile range 6-18). Prevalence of chronic pain was as
follows: chronic local pain 9%, chronic regional pain medium 21%, chronic
regional pain heavy 39%, and chronic widespread pain 31%. In the regression
models, being a woman and persistent pain duration had the strongest associations
with spreading of pain, but anxiety, pain interference, and insomnia were also
important factors. CONCLUSION: Spreading of chronic pain can only partly be
explained by the simultaneous levels of insomnia.
Female sex, pain duration, pain
interference and anxiety appear to have more significant relationships with the
spread of pain. Targeting these factors may lead to improvements in treatment and
prevention strategies.

Langue : ANGLAIS