Associations of Graded Chronic Non‐Cancer Pain Severity With Well‐Being and Modifiable Lifestyle Behaviour: Findings From a Danish Population‐Based Cross‐Sectional Survey

Background The Graded Chronic Pain Scale‐Revised (GCPS‐R) framework enables a standardised measure of disease severity and was incorporated into the national disease surveillance in Denmark in 2023. Novel dose–response associations between GCPS‐R‐systemised disease severity, general health, well‐being, and modifiable lifestyle behaviour were analysed to enhance awareness of risk associations related to chronic non‐cancer pain disease severity. Methods A cross‐sectional study including 8329 non‐cancer participants aged 16 years and older from the Danish National Health Survey 2023. The participants completed a comprehensive self‐reported questionnaire on general health, well‐being, and modifiable lifestyle behaviour, including the GCPS‐R framework. Multivariate‐adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using logistic regression models for dichotomous outcomes related to general health, well‐being, and modifiable lifestyle behaviour adjusted for sex, age, area of residence, BMI, country of origin, education and marital status. Results The GCPS‐R score had strong positive dose–response associations with odds of poor/fair general health, showing ORs 1.66 (95% CI: 1.32–2.10) in mild‐impact, 6.08 (5.02–7.37) in bothersome‐impact, and 13.53 (11.53–15.88) in high‐impact compared with no chronic non‐cancer pain. The GCPS‐R score had overall strong positive associations with odds of poor well‐being outcomes and moderate positive associations with odds of unhealthy modifiable lifestyle behaviour outcomes concerning illicit drugs, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and tobacco. Conclusions The GCPS‐R framework is applicable in national surveys enabling graded measures for associations related to chronic non‐cancer pain disease severity. Unified cross‐country strategies for national surveillance could strengthen the evidence base for equitable public health policies. Significance Statement Chronic non‐cancer pain is a highly prevalent disease associated with elevated risks of several bio‐ psychosocial health conditions. However, whether risks related to chronic non‐cancer pain vary by disease severity is currently unknown. Hellmann et al. found the validated GCPS‐R framework useful in national survey‐based disease surveillance. The GCPS‐R‐systemised disease severity measures classified in no, low‐impact, bothersome‐impact, and high‐impact chronic non‐cancer pain enabled nuanced knowledge about such risk associations, being a fundamental base in planning targeted healthcare strategies for improved chronic non‐cancer pain management.