Gender differences in chronic pain in a treatment-seeking population.
OBJECTIVE
To compare pain characteristics, disability, and comorbid psychological distress between genders in a treatment-seeking sample of patients with chronic pain.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with chronic pain were evaluated and assigned a pain diagnosis. Gender differences were compared on responses to questions about pain symptoms, associated disability, and psychological distress.


RESULTS
The pain sample (N = 716) was predominately female (63%). Pain locations, diagnoses, and trigger factors were similar in male and female patients. Male patients reported a greater mean pain severity (7.16 males vs 6.82 females; P = 0.05), greater pain constancy (41.2% vs 26.7%; P < 0.001), and more days per week with pain (6.37 vs 5.87; P < 0.001). In addition, males reported higher levels of disability, with reduced activity more than 3 days per week in 70.2% of males and 56.0% of females, and complete disability more than 3 days per week in 55.9% of males and 37.3% of females (P < 0.001). Quality of life measures were additionally reduced for both physical and psychological categories in men versus women (P = 0.05 to < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
There are important gender differences in treatment-seeking patients with chronic pain. Males report higher levels of pain and disability, with reduced physical and psychological quality of life, as compared to females. These differences in treatment-seeking patients may reflect gender differences in treatment-seeking behavior.
Marcus
Dawn A
DA
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. MarcusD@anes.upmc.edu
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological