The prevalence and age-related characteristics of pain in a sample of women veterans receiving primary care.
BACKGROUND
Women veterans are a growing but understudied population believed to be at increased risk for pain problems. Because of risk factors and clinical observations, we hypothesized that women veterans might have a high prevalence of pain and, thus, sought to determine the prevalence of (and age-related variations in) pain and to characterize several key pain dimensions in a sample of women veterans.


METHODS
Women with routine appointments at the VA Connecticut Women's Health Center were recruited for study. Participants completed a 59-item questionnaire that provided information about their demographic, clinical, and pain status, as well as use of health services.


RESULTS
Of 236 women approached, 213 (89%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 52 years, and most (78%) reported an ongoing pain problem. For those reporting pain, the mean duration of pain was 6 years, average pain intensity was 6.3 (range 1-10), and commonly endorsed pain sites included lower extremity (68%), low back (63%), and shoulder (48%). The most frequently endorsed treatment (by 80%) was analgesic medication use. Across the four age categories (20-35, 36-50, 51-65, and > or =66 years), pain prevalences were 64%, 89%, 83%, and 69%, respectively. Although pain intensity levels did not vary across age groups, older women (> or =66) reported using fewer pain treatments, including analgesic medications. Finally, those with (vs. those without) pain reported a greater number of medical and mental health visits in the preceding year.


CONCLUSIONS
This study documented a significantly high prevalence of pain among a sample of women veterans receiving primary care in a VA women's health clinic.
Haskell
Sally G
SG
Department of Medicine, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Connecticut, USA. Sally.Haskell@med.va.gov
Heapy
Alicia
A
Reid
M Carrington
MC
Papas
Rebecca K
RK
Kerns
Robert D
RD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*