Prevalence of chronic pain in adult population of the Russian Federation: an all-Russian epidemiological study

Objective. To study the prevalence of chronic pain in adult population of the Russian Federation (RF). Material and methods. A survey of adult Russians was conducted through all-Russian telephone survey. A random sample (n=1600) represents adult population by gender, age and type of settlement. Coverage includes all federal districts and at least 80 regions. Results. Chronic pain (> 3 months) was reported by 43% of respondents. Women and individuals aged ≥ 60 years most often described chronic pain. Respondents noted 1—2 pain locations (15% in each case); 13% of Russians named three or more locations. The most common localities of chronic pain were lower back pain (37%), knee pain (35%), and headache (25%). The greatest duration of chronic pain was observed in hands, knee joints and chest. Most respondents sought care for chronic pain syndrome. More than half of respondents (58%) take painkillers as prescribed by a doctor, 24% — by their own choice, and 37% of respondents use physical therapy to reduce pain. According to our data, 45% of respondents are failed to perform certain physical actions due to chronic pain, 38% decreased their ability to work and about 25% of respondents report sleep disorders and irritability. Conclusion. We established the prevalence of chronic pain among adults in our country. Characteristics of chronic pain can vary depending on gender, age and type of settlement.