Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Chronic Widespread Pain in Chile

Abstract

Objectives: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) causes significant health loss worldwide. Given that cultural factors may affect pain processing, it is key to have more information regarding CMP epidemiology in Latin America. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of CMP and chronic widespread pain (CWP) in Chile.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study. We used data recollected in the 2016-2017 Chilean National Health Survey, a nationwide household survey. Our study population included subjects older than 14 years living in urban and rural Chile. We defined CMP as nontraumatic pain with a duration of longer than 3 months. Chronic widespread pain was defined by the presence of CMP in 5 body regions. The association between CMP and CWP and potential risk factors was investigated through univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results:After excluding subjects with missing information our final sample constituted 4045 subjects. Chronic musculoskeletal pain was present in 21.8% (95% confidence interval, 19.6%-24.1%) and CWP in 4.2% (95% confidence interval, 3.3%-5.1%). Significant risk factors in multivariate analysis were older age, female sex, lower educational level, and depressive symptoms. Factors associated with a reduced risk of CMP were not being married and moderate alcohol consumption.Conclusions: One of 5 Chilean people has chronic pain, and 1 of 20 has CWP. Data regarding alcohol and pain have been controversial in previous studies; therefore, this decreased risk in moderate consumers should be further explored. Chronic widespread pain shared risk factors and protective factors with CMP but with a higher magnitude of association.

Chronic pain in Chile: first prevalence report of noncancer chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain and its associated factors

“…15,38,52 This association was also found in a previous Chilean study using the COPCORD questionnaire to estimate CP. 17 Potential explanations are unemployment, 15,38 sedentarism, 52 lower life quality, and higher frequency of depressive symptoms. 57…”

“…15,38,52 This association was also found in a previous Chilean study using the COPCORD questionnaire to estimate CP. 17 Potential explanations are unemployment, 15,38 sedentarism, 52 lower life quality, and higher frequency of depressive symptoms. 57 Depressive symptoms were more prevalent amongst all groups, an association established in populations from developed countries.…”

“…However, data on chronic MKP showed that its prevalence was 17.5% (2010) and 20% (2016), with widespread pain affecting to 4.2% of the population. 17,67 In another report, chronic MKP was estimated to generate 21.2% of the Chilean population's disability. 75 Importantly, a new bill has been presented to the Senate to warrant universal access to FM treatment, but as long as no data regarding prevalence exist, this law cannot be successfully enforced (proposed bill number 14746-11 on December 14, 2021).…”

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Pain: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Factors repeatedly associated with pain include age, gender, depression, and sleep disorders. Studies suggest that smoking, alcohol, and comorbidities may also influence the development of chronic pain (17). The comorbidity of OSAS and CWP is frequently observed.…”

The prevalence of chronic pain in young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Rome III criteria were used in 2 of the 3 studies of visceral/abdominal pain to classify irritable bowel syndrome. 19,26 Several studies included other pain characteristics as part of their operational definition of chronic pain, including pain frequency (eg, "persistent," daily, and weekly), 3,12,60,68,69 taxonomy (eg, "discomfort," "aches"), 31,63 intensity (eg, different cutoffs using the numeric rating scale 27,58 ), and interference. 4,31 Overall, definitions and measurements of pain varied among included studies.…”