Chronic pain-prevalence, characteristics, and burden: A population-based cross-sectional study

AI Summary

Chronic pain prevalence 32% in adults in the Capital Region of Denmark, indicating high population level burden.
Higher prevalence among women, older adults and persons with low education, showing sociodemographic gradients.
Chronic pain associated with severe pain intensity, interference, comorbidity, poor physical and mental quality of life, high stress and loneliness.

Scand J Public Health. 2026 May 15:14034948261440646. doi: 10.1177/14034948261440646. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a burden for both the individual and society. In the International Classification of Disease, 11th version, chronic pain is defined as persistent or recurrent pain for more than three months. The aim was to assess the prevalence of self-reported chronic pain approximating this definition in the general population of the Capital Region in Denmark, characterize those affected, and investigate the associated burden of chronic pain in terms of pain-, health- and emotion-related factors.

METHODS: Self-reported chronic pain was assessed in the Danish Capital Region Health Survey 2021, comprising 56,245 participants from the general population of the Capital Region of Denmark aged ⩾16 years (response rate 54.9%). Questions on chronic pain were developed using cognitive interviewing. Sociodemographic characteristics were assessed using national registries. Burden was defined as associations between chronic pain and morbidity (from registries) and factors related to pain, self-rated health, and emotions (self-reported data). Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression models weighted for survey design and non-response were performed.

RESULTS: In total, 32% reported chronic pain. It was most common among women, persons with low education and the elderly population. Chronic pain was highly associated with high pain intensity, pain-related interference and distress, comorbid conditions, poor physical and mental health-related quality of life, high stress-level, and loneliness.

CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported chronic pain was highly prevalent in the general adult population and was associated with a substantial burden in terms of pain-, health- and emotion-related factors, underscoring a significant public health challenge of chronic pain.

PMID:42141733 | DOI:10.1177/14034948261440646

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