title: Prevalence of chronic pain, impact on daily life, and treatment practices in India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic pain is of concern to health professionals, patients, society, and negatively impacts quality of life (QoL). The present epidemiologic study identified point prevalence of chronic pain in India, impact on individual's QoL, unveiling current pain treatment practices, and levels of satisfaction with treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This epidemiological telephonic survey consisted of two questionnaires: screening questionnaire that assessed prevalence of pain, its frequency during the past week, intensity during last episode, sites of pain, and main causes, and in-depth questionnaire that evaluated demography, frequency, duration, and intensity of pain; impact of pain on QoL; respondent's perception regarding the attitude of their family, friends, and doctors toward their pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5004 respondents were included from eight cities across India. The overall point prevalence of chronic pain was 13%, and the mean intensity of pain on NRS scale was 6.93. Respondents with chronic moderate and chronic severe pain were 37% and 63%, respectively. Pain in knees (32%), legs (28%), and joints (22%) was most prevalent. Respondents with chronic pain were no longer able to exercise, sleep, maintain relationships with friends and family, and maintain an independent lifestyle. About 32% of patients lost ≥4 hours of work in the past 3 months. Majority (68%) of respondents were treated for pain with over the counter (OTC) drugs, and most were taking NSAIDs (95%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant population of India suffers from chronic pain, and their QoL is affected leading to disability. A proportion of respondents receiving pain treatment were taking nonprescription medications with a majority of respondents on NSAIDs. A very few were consulting pain management specialists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Medicine, New Delhi Pain Management Centre, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Gur Prasad
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Dureja
authors.forename: Paramanand N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Shyama Prasad
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prabhoo
authors.forename: Muralidhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.forename: Karthic Babu
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.forename: Rajagopalan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Tanna
authors.forename: Pahari
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kadhe
authors.forename: Abhay A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Phansalkar
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
keywords: analgesic usage; chronic pain; epidemiological study; impact on daily life; point prevalence; urban and suburban Population