WIDESPREAD MUSCULOSKELETAL CHRONIC PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKING - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY IN A GENERAL RURAL-POPULATION

Data on smoking and pain symptoms from a random sample (n=1806) of a g eneral population were used to evaluate the association between chroni c pain at various locations and smoking. In both genders current smoki ng was associated with reports of increased pain in low back, neck and with multiple locations. In a multiple logistic regression analysis c urrent smoking was associated with an increase in widespread chronic m usculoskeletal pain (OR 1.60, CI 1.04-2.46, in relation to non-smokers ) and chronic low back pain (OR 1.58, CI 1.13-2.20, in relation to non -smokers). A dose-response relationship was found between the daily ci garette consumption and the prevalence of chronic low back pain. Smoki ng is associated not only with low back pain but also with chronic wid espread musculoskeletal pain. No conclusive decrease in pain prevalenc e was found after quitting smoking. Further studies are necessary to e lucidate an aetiologic relationship between smoking and chronic pain.