title: [Pain epidemiology and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic non-malignant pain].
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 referred to a Danish multidisciplinary pain centre. Mean pain intensity was 71.6 (SD 18.5) on the VAS scale. HRQL was evaluated using the questionnaires: SF-36, HAD and PGWB. Compared with the normal population (NP) both physical, psychological and social well-being was severely reduced, and 58% were found to have a depressive or anxiety disorder. Sixty-three percent of the patients had neurogenic pain conditions. Of these, only 25% were treated with antidepressants or anticonvulsants. At referral 73% were treated with opioids. Mean opioid consumption was 64 mg of morphine per day. Patients had used the health care system five times more often than the NP (p < 0.001). The study showed that HRQL of chronic non-malignant pain patients is among the lowest observed for any medical condition.
authors.affiliation: Hillerød Sygehus, H:S Rigshospitalet, Tvaerfagligt Smertecenter.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sjøgren
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eriksen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D018710:Pain Clinics; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Smerteepidemiologi og helbredsrelateret livskvalitet hos patienter med kroniske ikkemaligne smerter.