title: Comorbidity of pain-associated disability and depressive symptoms in connection with sociodemographic variables: results from a cross-sectional epidemiological survey in Hungary.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pain symptoms causing disabilities in every-day activities and their possible connection to depressive symptomatology. A representative sample of 12640 adults from the Hungarian population participated in a door-to-door survey about demographic variables, pain-associated disability, and depressive symptomatology. The overall prevalence of pain-associated disability was 32.7%, significantly lower in men, showing a significant increasing trend with age. A decreasing tendency in prevalence rates was observed in connection with higher educational and occupational status. Results revealed a 30.2% prevalence of depressive symptomatology among interviewees reporting pain-associated disabilities. The co-prevalence of depressive symptoms revealed a significant increasing trend with age and lower educational level. No significant gender difference was found in the co-occurrence of depressive symptoms. This survey concludes that pain symptoms constitute a substantial public health problem in the Hungarian population in forms of emerging disabilities and depression. Epidemiological studies offer a better understanding of sociodemographic differences in health status, and serve the better allocation of professional and economic resources.
authors: Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: János M
authors: JM
authors: Réthelyi
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Berghammer
authors: Mária S
authors: MS
authors: Kopp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution