THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CHRONIC PAIN IN A SWEDISH RURAL AREA

In order to establish basic epidemiological data on chronic pain(durat ion > 3 months) in a rural population, a survey of pain symptoms was c onducted by means of a postal questionnaire. The questionnaire was sen t to a random sample (from the population register) of 15% of the popu lation aged 25-74 (n = 1806) in two Swedish primary health care distri cts, The response rate was 90%, In a follow-up study individuals selec ted among the responders (neck-shoulder pain, widespread pain and cont rols without pain; n = 213) were examined and interviewed, They were r equestioned about pain symptoms 24 months after the initial survey, Wi thout sex differences 55% of the population had perceived persistent p ain for 3 months and 49% for 6 months. Women experienced more multiple localizations of pain and had pain in neck, shoulder, arm and thigh t o a greater extent than men, Prevalence of pain increased by age up to 50-59 years for both genders and then slowly decreased, The neck-shou lder area was the most common site of pain (women 32.9%, men 27.5%), B lue-collar workers and employers (including farmers) reported chronic pain to a greater extent than other groups, In 13% of the population, manifest pain problems were associated with reduced functional capacit y, Examination of selected pain groups indicated a high proportion of unspecific musculoskeletal symptoms, Diagnosis with definite definitio ns, explaining the pains, were found in 40% of the individuals. Indivi duals with widespread pain had a higher pain intensity, more somatic s ymptoms, were more depressive and had the lowest scores for quality of life, The high prevalence of unevenly distributed chronic pain sympto ms in a rural general population must influence the work of primary he alth care, Results may also generate ideas of preventive activities.