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. 2004 Aug 25;4 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S17.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6874-4-S1-S17.

Chronic Pain: The Extra Burden on Canadian Women

Marta Meana  1 , Robert Cho, Marie DesMeules
Affiliations

Chronic Pain: The Extra Burden on Canadian Women

Marta Meana et al. BMC Womens Health. .

Abstract

HEALTH ISSUE: Chronic pain is a major health problem associated with significant costs to both afflicted individuals and society as a whole. These costs seem to be disproportionately borne by women, who generally have higher prevalence rates for chronic pain than do men. KEY FINDINGS: Data obtained from 125,574 respondents to the Canadian Community Health Survey (2000-2001) indicated that 18% of Canadian women suffered from chronic pain, compared to 14% of men. This gender discrepancy, however, seemed to be linked primarily to differences in age, income, and education between adult men and women in this large sample. Age, income, depression and functional interference with activities were strongly associated with chronic pain in general. No gender differences were found in the intensity of pain experienced. Ethnicity was not strongly associated with chronic pain prevalence, although Asians were the group with the highest chronic pain prevalence in the over-65 age group and Aboriginal Canadians had the highest prevalence in the under-65 age group. DATA GAPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Current gaps in our knowledge include the types of chronic pain women experience, their impact on domestic responsibilities and parenting and health care utilization patterns of women with chronic pain. Data sources such as provincial databases of billing claims may be useful in the future to enrich our knowledge of health care utilization and analgesic medication use. Enhanced surveillance, assessment, and early identification of pain disorders are recommended to improve outcomes. Considering current demographic patterns toward an older population, there is also some urgency to the development of patient education and self-management programs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chronic Pain Prevalence by Age, Sex and Intensity, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of Selected Chronic Conditions Among Those With Chronic Pain, by Sex, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of Chronic Pain by Age and Sex, Canada Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 4
Figure 4
Chronic Pain Prevalence by Household Income, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 5
Figure 5
Prevalence of Chronic Pain by Sex, Age and Marital Status, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 6
Figure 6
Distribution of Chronic Conditions Among Those With Chronic Pain, by Age and Sex, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 7
Figure 7
Pain Intensity Among Those With Pain-Associated Chronic Conditions, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 8
Figure 8
Chronic Pain Prevalence by Sex and BMI, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 9
Figure 9
Prevalence of Depression by Chronic Pain Status, Age and Sex, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 10
Figure 10
Prevalence of Depression by Pain Intensity, Age and Sex, Canada Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 11
Figure 11
Proportion Requiring Help by Chronic Pain Status, Sex and Age, Canada Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 12
Figure 12
Prevalence of Chronic Pain by Employment Variables Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 13
Figure 13
Prevalence of Chronic Pain by Self-Rated Health, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 14
Figure 14
Prevalence of Chronic Pain by Self-Rated Stress, Canada. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 15
Figure 15
Prevalence of Chronic Pain by Perceived Tangible Support, Canada Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 16
Figure 16
Percentage of Those With Chronic Pain, by Sex, Age, Ethnicity Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 17
Figure 17
Logistic Regression of Variables Associated With Pain, Odds Ratios Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001. Statistics Canada bootstrap programs used
Figure 18
Figure 18
Percentage Health Care Utilization in The Previous 12 Months, by Chronic Pain Status and Age. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
Figure 19
Figure 19
Medication Use in Previous Month by Chronic Pain Status and Age. Source: Statistics Canada, CCHS, 2000–2001
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