Prevalence of Widespread Pain and Its Impact on Work Status
Author Information
Author(s): Gerdle Björn, Björk Jonas, Cöster Lars, Henriksson KG, Henriksson Chris, Bengtsson Ann
Primary Institution: Linköping University
Hypothesis
Widespread pain (WSP) is common in the population and is associated with various sociodemographic factors and work status.
Conclusion
Widespread pain is prevalent, particularly among women and older individuals, and negatively affects work status.
Supporting Evidence
- Widespread pain was reported by 4.8% of the population using the ACR definition.
- Women had a higher prevalence of widespread pain than men.
- Widespread pain was associated with lower work status, especially in individuals aged 50-64 years.
- Chronic pain was linked to increased health care seeking, but not the spreading of pain.
Takeaway
Many people have pain all over their bodies, especially women and older folks, and this can make it hard for them to work.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey using a postal questionnaire sent to a representative sample of the population in Östergötland, Sweden.
Potential Biases
Non-participants were generally younger, earned less, and were more often male, which could skew results.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits conclusions about cause and effect, and the participation rate may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 18-74 years, with a representative sample from a Swedish county.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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