The burden of chronic pain: A cross-sectional survey focussing on diseases, immigration, and opioid use

Abstract

Chronic pain is currently considered a public health problem with high costs to the individual and society. To improve prevention and treatment of chronic pain, epidemiologic studies are mandatory for assessing chronic pain. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of chronic pain in the adult Danish population and to analyze associated factors such as diseases, immigration, and opioid use. This cross-sectional survey combines individual-based information from the Danish Health Survey (2010) and official Danish health and socioeconomic, individual-based registers. The simple random sample consisted of 25,000 individuals (≥16 years old) living in Denmark. In all, 60.7% completed a mailed or online questionnaire. Associations were examined with multiple logistic regression analysis. The study population consisted of 14,925 individuals in whom a high prevalence of chronic pain (26.8%, 95% confidence interval: 26.1 to 27.5) and a high prevalence of opioid consumption (4.5%) were observed. Other aspects of particular note: (1) a higher prevalence of chronic pain occurred among individuals with cardiovascular and chronic pulmonary diseases than among individuals with cancer; and (2) individuals with a non-Western background reported a higher pain prevalence, higher pain intensities, and more widespread pain than individuals with Danish background; however, opioids were more frequently used by native Danes. The prevalence of chronic pain as well as opioid use in Denmark are alarmingly high, and the relevance of opioid consumption is unknown.

Morbidity, Self-Perceived Health and Mortality Among non-Western Immigrants and Their Descendants in Denmark in a Life Phase Perspective

“…Similar findings applied to self-reported chronic pain where increased prevalence and higher pain intensity were reported among non-Western immigrants compared with ethnic Danes [21,29,37], yet, one study found no differences in pain report between immigrants holding a Danish citizenship and ethnic Danes [19].…”

Untying chronic pain: prevalence and societal burden of chronic pain stages in the general population - a cross-sectional survey

“…26.8% of adult Danes reported that they have chronic pain defined by the question “Do you have chronic/long-lasting pain lasting 6 months or more?” [25]. In contrast, the prevalence of chronic pain might be higher in Asia and lower in New Zealand.…”

Delta opioid agonists: a concise update on potential therapeutic applications

“…2 In addition, the misuse, abuse and diversion of these medications lead to significant individual and societal burdens. 3 Therefore, there is a continuing quest for opioid analgesics that are as efficacious as existing ones, but have less adverse effect or abuse potential. 4,5 Research over the last few decades has advanced the understanding of the cellular actions of opioid compounds.…”

“…They were originally named for either a selective ligand (l for morphine, j for ketocyclazocine) or a tissue (d for vas deferens) with which, or in which, it was best characterized. More modern terminology includes OPRM, MOR, MOP or OP 3 ; OPRD, DOR, DOP or OP 1 ; and OPRK, KOR, KOP or OP 2 (among several others) for the l-opioid receptor (protein), the d-opioid receptor (protein) and the j-opioid receptor (protein), respectively. The human genes are designated OPRM, OPRD and OPRK, respectively.…”