Self-reported chronic pain: Prevalence and characteristics in the Capital Region of Denmark

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a burden for both the individual and the society. Primary chronic pain has been included in the International Classification of Disease, 11th version (ICD-11), defined as persistent or recurrent pain for more than three months. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of self-reported chronic pain approximating this definition as well as characteristics of persons with self-reported chronic pain in the Capital Region of Denmark, comprising 1/3 of the citizens in Denmark. METHODS: Self-reported chronic pain, defined to approximate the ICD-11 definition, was assessed in the Danish Capital Region Health Survey 2021, including 56,245 participants from the general population aged ≥16 years (response rate 54.9%). The question was validated using cognitive interviewing. Characteristics of persons with chronic pain were assessed using national registries (socio-demographics) as well as questionnaire data (health status and health-related behavior). Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression models weighted for survey design and non-response were performed. RESULTS: Preliminary results show that 32% in the Capital Region of Denmark in 2021 had self-reported chronic pain. More women (35%) than men (28%) reported chronic pain. The prevalence of chronic pain increased with age, but still, 20 % of persons aged 16-34 years also reported chronic pain. Chronic pain was inversely associated with education; thus, 45% of persons with short education reported chronic pain. Associations between chronic pain and mental and physical health status as well as health-related behavior, pain interference and pain location will be presented. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported chronic pain is highly prevalent in the general adult population of the Capital Region of Denmark. Knowledge on prevalence and characteristics of persons with chronic pain is important to create effective prevention and treatment strategies. KEY MESSAGES: • Chronic pain is highly prevalent in the general population. • More focus and research are needed on chronic pain – both concerning prevention and treatment.