Table 1 Population-based surveys of the prevalence of chronic pain in young adults
Country/ region, year of study, reference | Sample frame, type of data collection | Method of data collection | Age | Number studied | Response rate | Definition of chronic pain (CP) and disabling chronic pain (DCP) | Prevalence in young adults | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada, Burlington (Crook et al., 1984) [15] | Random sample of households from registers from four family practices | Telephone interview (proxy report for household members) | 18–91 | 372 h/holds (827 people) | 64.4% of h/holds | CP DCP | Are you (or any member of your family over 18 years of age) often troubled with pain? CP + Work limitation CP + Days kept from usual activities CP + Days in bed because of pain CP + Physical function (MHI*) CP + Social function (MHIa) | 18–30 yrs = 7.6% Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported |
UK, national, 1990 (Bowsher et al., 1991) [16] | Telephone directories | Telephone interview (proxy report for household members) | 15+ | 1037 h/holds (2942 people) | Not reported | CP DCP | Pain lasting on or off for more than the last 3 months Unable to work or lead a normal life because of pain | 15–24 yrs = 4% 15–24 yrs = 2.5% |
UK, Grampian (Smith et al., 1996) [17] | Patients on repeat prescriptions for pain management registered at 2 general practices | Postal questionnaire | 15+ | 10 712 | 75.5% (adj.) | CP DCP | Electronic record of repeat prescriptions for analgesia Not gathered | 15–24 yrs = 4.2% - |
Israel, Yeruham, 1997 (Buskila et al., 2000) [18] | Age-stratified random sample from health insurance registers | Personal interview | 18–86 | 2210 | 95.2% | CP DCP | Current pain that had been present for at least 3 months (regional or widespread) CP + Lost work days in last 6 months | 18–30 yrs = 9% (F); 4% (M) Not reported |
Australia, New South Wales, 1997 (Blyth et al., 2001) [19] | Randomly generated telephone numbers + random sampling of one resident per household | Telephone interview | 16+ | 17 543 | 70.8% | CP DCP | Pain experienced every day for 3 months in the preceding 6 months CP + Some interference with daily activities (five-point adjectival scale from 'none' to 'extreme') | 15–19 yrs = 12%E (F); 8%E (M) 20–24 yrs = 14%E (F); 12%E(M) 15–19 yrs = 8%E (F); 7%E (M) 20–24 yrs = 12%E (F); 9%E(M) E = estimate from graph |
Spain, national, 1998 (Catala et al., 2002) [20] | Electoral census; Telephone directories + quota sampling of one resident per household | Telephone interview | 18–95 | 5000 | 41.7% | CP DCP | Pain during last day or week lasting more than 3 months CP + Usual activities limited by pain | 18–29 yrs = 5%E (F); 5%E (M) 18–29 yrs = <1% |
Denmark, National, 2000 (Eriksen et al., 2003) [21] | Random national sample from Danish Central Personal Register | Personal interview and postal question-aire | 16+ | 10 066 | 60% | CP DCP | Chronic/longlasting pain lasting 6 months or more (excl previous/current cancer) CP + Long-lasting activity restriction CP + Quit job because of ill health CP + Absence due to illness CP + SF-36 | 16–24 yrs = 9% Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported |
UK, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Multinational, 1994–9 (Ohayon et al., 2003) [22] | Not reported | Telephone interview | 15–100 | 18 980 | 80.4% | CP/DCP | Pain lasting 6+ months; consulted a health specialist; were taking analgesia; or pain interfered with function | <25 yrs = 13.5% (F); 9.4% (M) |