Epidemiology and treatment of pain in Italy: Part I

Chronic pain can be debilitating and often becomes the defining factor in patients' lives. Many trials have been developed to evaluate the extent and quality of pain in specific populations. The most important informations result from the study “Pain in Europe”, published in 2006, that showed a prevalence of pain by 19%; low back pain was the most frequent disease; one third of the interviewed people complained the worst imaginable pain; on average, people lived with chronic pain for 7.7 years. In regard to the treatment of pain in Italy, the same survey shows inadequate treatment in 47% of cases; 42% of patients reported the assumption of drugs; in 68% of cases Italian doctors prescribed NSAIDs; no patient was in treatment with strong opioids. The link between the reduced use of opioids in Italy and the fear of physicians has been demonstrated by a recent study, not yet published, about the use of analgesics in emergency setting. It is reasonable to believe that the actual situation in Italy is the consequence of the lack of a specific school on pain therapy and of the teaching of pain therapy in the University, until a few years ago. In this situation, only the scientific societies can obtain results.