Epidemiology of Severe Chronic Pain Among Hungarian Adolescents: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background and Aims Severe chronic pain affects 5–14% of adolescents globally, leading to diminished quality of life and increased healthcare use. However, data from Central‐Eastern Europe remain scarce. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of severe chronic pain among Hungarian adolescents and to identify associated sociodemographic, biological, and school‐related risk factors. Methods A national cross‐sectional survey was conducted among Hungarian adolescents aged 11–18 years ( N = 522; 51.1% girls; mean age = 14.8 ± 2.4 years). Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing pain severity (adapted von Korff classification), health‐related quality of life, somatic symptoms, sleep problems, and school‐related stressors, including specific learning disorders. Parental data on socioeconomic status were also collected. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for severe chronic pain (grade III or IV). Results Severe chronic pain was reported by 7.5% (95% CI: 5.5–10.1) of the sample and was significantly more prevalent among girls. It was mostly localized to the abdomen and frequently involved multiple pain sites. In multivariate analysis, significant risk factors included low paternal educational attainment, presence of chronic medical conditions, other somatic symptoms, and arithmetic learning disorders. Adolescents with severe chronic pain showed higher healthcare utilization and more frequent use of pain medication. Conclusion Severe chronic pain affects one in thirteen Hungarian adolescents. Identification of risk factors such as low paternal education, chronic illness, somatic symptoms, and arithmetic learning disorders may support the development of targeted interventions. Addressing educational and health‐related risk factors may help reduce the prevalence and impact of severe chronic pain in adolescence.