title: Sex and Age Differences in Global Pain Status Among Patients Using Opioids Long Term for Chronic Noncancer Pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of chronic opioid therapy (COT) has risen dramatically in recent years, especially among women. However, little is known about factors influencing overall pain and function (global pain status) among COT users. Characterizing the typical experiences of COT patients by age-sex group could help clinicians and patients better weigh the risks and benefits of COT. Thus, we sought to characterize global pain status among COT users in community practice by age and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey of 2,163 health plan members aged 21-80 years using COT. We assessed average/usual pain (0-10 scale); pain-related interference (0-10); activity limitation days, last 3 months; and pain impact, last 2 weeks (0-11). Status on each indicator was classified as low (better pain/function), moderate, or high (worse pain/function). Global pain status was categorized as favorable if 2-4 indicators were low and 0-1 was high and unfavorable if 2-4 indicators were high and 0-1 was low.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among female COT patients, 15% (vs. 26% of males) had favorable global pain status and 59% (vs. 42% of males) had unfavorable status. Under age 65 years, women fared more poorly than men on every indicator. Among 65- to 80-year-olds, women and men had similar global pain status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although pain and function among COT users vary considerably, only one in five reported low pain levels and high levels of function. Young and middle-aged women seem to be at particularly high risk for unfavorable global pain status. More research is needed about how to best manage pain in this group.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral Medicine, University of Washington School of Dentistry , Seattle, Washington.|2 Group Health Research Institute , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: LeResche
authors.affiliation: 2 Group Health Research Institute , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: 2 Group Health Research Institute , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dublin
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Washington School of Medicine , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thielke
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Joseph O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.affiliation: 2 Group Health Research Institute , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shortreed
authors.affiliation: 5 Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente , Oakland, California.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: 2 Group Health Research Institute , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Von Korff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid