Adverse impacts of chronic pain on health-related quality of life, work productivity, depression and anxiety in a community-based study

Kosuke Kawai; Alison Tse Kawai; Peter Wollan; Barbara P Yawn

doi:10.1093/fampra/cmx034

Table 1.

Characteristics of adults with and without chronic pain in the Olmsted County Health Study in Minnesota, 2004 to 2006

Characteristics Adults with no chronic pain (n = 150) Adults with chronic pain (n = 591) P value
Demographics
Age years, mean (SD) 56.8 (±14.8) 56.5 (±13.3) 0.85
Women 70 (46.7%) 375 (63.5%) <0.001
Married 124 (83.2%) 450 (76.3%) 0.07
Currently working 103 (68.7%) 379 (64.1%) 0.30
Education 0.016
High school or less 29 (19.5%) 122 (20.8%)
Some college or vocational 42 (28.2%) 230 (39.2%)
Graduated college or higher 78 (52.3%) 235 (40.0%)
BMI (kg/m²), mean (SD) 26.6 (±4.9) 28.3 (±5.9) <0.001
Obese (>30 kg/m²) 30 (20.3%) 181 (30.8%) 0.012
General health, fair or poor 7 (4.7%) 105 (18.1%) <0.001
Characteristics of pain
Duration of pain, years, median (IQR) — 9.0 (4.0–20.0)
Frequency ≥8 days per month — 383 (85.3%)
Pain lasting ≥8 hours per day — 203 (48.3%)
Medical Outcomes Study Physical Functioning, mean (SD) 89.4 (±18.1) 72.9 (±24.0) <0.001
Depressive symptoms <0.001
Mild depressive symptoms 5 (3.3%) 86 (14.6%)
Major depressive symptoms 3 (2.0%) 61 (10.3%)
Beck anxiety, score ≥4 7 (4.7%) 85 (14.4%) <0.001
Healthcare seeking for pain
Difficulties/delays in obtaining care, did not receive needed care 9 (6.0%) 82 (13.9%) 0.009
No diagnosis of chronic pain by physician — 79 (15.3%)
No discussion of chronic pain with physician — 57 (12.1%)
Any alternative medicine use 96 (64.0%) 478 (80.9%) <0.001
Chiropractic 41 (27.3%) 271 (45.9%) <0.001
Spiritual healing or prayer 53 (35.3%) 237 (40.1%) 0.29
Nutritional or lifestyle diets 32 (21.3%) 231 (39.1%) <0.001
Massage therapy 20 (13.3%) 175 (29.6%) <0.001

n (%) or mean (±SD). Missing values are present in some variables.
P values from chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables.
Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF) Physical Functioning was mean score based on the 10 items. The mean score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 being the best health state

Characteristics	Adults with no chronic pain (n = 150)	Adults with chronic pain (n = 591)	P value
Demographics
Age years, mean (SD)	56.8 (±14.8)	56.5 (±13.3)	0.85
Women	70 (46.7%)	375 (63.5%)	<0.001
Married	124 (83.2%)	450 (76.3%)	0.07
Currently working	103 (68.7%)	379 (64.1%)	0.30
Education			0.016
High school or less	29 (19.5%)	122 (20.8%)
Some college or vocational	42 (28.2%)	230 (39.2%)
Graduated college or higher	78 (52.3%)	235 (40.0%)
BMI (kg/m²), mean (SD)	26.6 (±4.9)	28.3 (±5.9)	<0.001
Obese (>30 kg/m²)	30 (20.3%)	181 (30.8%)	0.012
General health, fair or poor	7 (4.7%)	105 (18.1%)	<0.001
Characteristics of pain
Duration of pain, years, median (IQR)	—	9.0 (4.0–20.0)
Frequency ≥8 days per month	—	383 (85.3%)
Pain lasting ≥8 hours per day	—	203 (48.3%)
Medical Outcomes Study Physical Functioning, mean (SD)	89.4 (±18.1)	72.9 (±24.0)	<0.001
Depressive symptoms			<0.001
Mild depressive symptoms	5 (3.3%)	86 (14.6%)
Major depressive symptoms	3 (2.0%)	61 (10.3%)
Beck anxiety, score ≥4	7 (4.7%)	85 (14.4%)	<0.001
Healthcare seeking for pain
Difficulties/delays in obtaining care, did not receive needed care	9 (6.0%)	82 (13.9%)	0.009
No diagnosis of chronic pain by physician	—	79 (15.3%)
No discussion of chronic pain with physician	—	57 (12.1%)
Any alternative medicine use	96 (64.0%)	478 (80.9%)	<0.001
Chiropractic	41 (27.3%)	271 (45.9%)	<0.001
Spiritual healing or prayer	53 (35.3%)	237 (40.1%)	0.29
Nutritional or lifestyle diets	32 (21.3%)	231 (39.1%)	<0.001
Massage therapy	20 (13.3%)	175 (29.6%)	<0.001