title: Prevalence of chronic head, neck and low back pain and associated factors in women residing in the Autonomous Region of Madrid (Spain).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the prevalence of chronic headache (CH), chronic neck pain (CNP) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) in the autonomous region of Madrid by analyzing gender differences and to determine the factors associated with each pain location in women in 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data obtained from adults aged 16 years or older (n = 12,190) who participated in the 2007 Madrid Regional Health Survey. This survey includes data from personal interviews conducted in a representative population residing in family dwellings in Madrid. The presence CH, CNP, and CLBP was analyzed. Sociodemographic features, self-perceived health status, lifestyle habits, psychological distress, drug consumption, use of healthcare services, the search for alternative solutions, and comorbid diseases were analyzed by using logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of CH, CNP and CLBP was significantly higher (P<0.001) in women (7.3%, 8.4%, 14.1%, respectively) than in men (2.2%, 3.2%, 7.8%, respectively). In women, CH, CNP and CBLP were significantly associated with having ≥3 chronic diseases (OR 7.1, 8.5, 5.8, respectively), and with the use of analgesics and drugs for inflammation (OR: 3.5, 1.95, 2.5, respectively). In the bivariate analysis, the factors associated with pain in distinct body locations differed between men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that CH, CNP and CLBP are a major public health problem in women in central Spain. Women have a higher overall prevalence of chronic pain than men. Chronic pain was associated with a higher use of analgesics and healthcare services.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Teaching and Research Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Sánchez
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrasco-Garrido
authors.forename: Valentín
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hernández-Barrera
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso-Blanco
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palacios-Ceña
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-García
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents