title: Differences between patients with chronic widespread pain and local chronic low back pain in primary care--a comparative cross-sectional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic pain is a common reason for consultation in general practice. Current research distinguishes between chronic localized pain (CLP) and chronic widespread pain (CWP). The aim of this study was to identify differences between CWP and chronic low back pain (CLBP), a common type of CLP, in primary care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight German general practitioners (GPs) consecutively recruited all eligible patients who consulted for chronic low back pain during a 5-month period. All patients received a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, pain characteristics, comorbidities, psychosomatic symptoms, and previous therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GPs recruited 647 eligible patients where of a quarter (n = 163, 25.2%) met the CWP criteria according to the American College of Rheumatology. CWP patients had significantly more comorbidities and psychosomatic symptoms, showed longer pain duration, and suffered predominantly from permanent pain instead of distinguishable pain attacks. CWP patients were more often females, are less working and reported a current pension application or a state-approved grade of disability more frequently. We found no other differences in demographic parameters such as age, nationality, marital status, number of persons in household, education, health insurance status, or in health care utilization data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project is the largest study performed to date which analyzes differences between CLBP and CWP in primary care settings. Our results showed that CWP is a frequent and particularly severe pain syndrome.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  German Clinical Trial Register, DRKS00003123.
authors: Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str, 4, 35043 Marburg, Germany. annika.viniol@staff.uni-marburg.de.
authors: Annika
authors: A
authors: Viniol
authors: Nikita
authors: N
authors: Jegan
authors: Corinna
authors: C
authors: Leonhardt
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Brugger
authors: Konstantin
authors: K
authors: Strauch
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Barth
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Baum
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors