Chronic pain: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of chronic pain in the general population ranges from 10% to over 40%, depending on the definition and the population studied. No large study has been conducted in Israel.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of patients with chronic pain, and characterize them in a large community random sample.


METHODS
We conducted a survey of Clalit Health Services members, interviewing them by phone. A random sample of 4063 Clalit members, 25 years or older and Hebrew speakers, were screened for chronic pain, defined as: any pain or discomfort that in the last 6 months has persisted continuously or intermittently for more than 3 months.


RESULTS
Eight percent (n=325) refused to participate. Of the 3738 included in the study, 1722 (46%) reported chronic pain in at least one site. Most of the patients were over 50-years-old (62%) (mean age 56 +/- 16, range 27-97 years). Women suffered significantly more than men, as did those who were older, less educated and born in Israel and Eastern Europe. Prevalent painful sites were the back (32%), limbs (17%) and head (13%). More than a third reported severe pain and impaired life activities. Only 4.8% of the patients suffering from chronic pain were referred to pain specialists and 11% used complementary medicine. A logistic regression model showed that women and patients with a low education level were the only significant variables predicting higher life impact index and higher pain severity.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a high prevalence of chronic pain in the study population. Chronic pain causes severe disturbance to quality of life. A low rate of referral to pain specialists and complementary medicine was observed.
Neville
Anat
A
Pain and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Peleg
Roni
R
Singer
Yoram
Y
Sherf
Michael
M
Shvartzman
Pesach
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires