Abstract
Chronic pain, defined as persistent or recurring pain or pain lasting longer than three months, is a common childhood problem. The objective of this study was to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of chronic pain (i.e., overall, headache, abdominal pain, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, multi-site/general pain, and other) in children and adolescents. EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched for publications between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2023. Studies reporting population-based estimates of
chronic non-disease-related pain prevalence in children or adolescents (age 19 years) were included. Two independent reviewers screened papers based on a priori protocol. 119 studies with a total of 1,043,878 children (52.0% female, mean age 13.4yrs [SD 2.4]) were included. 71 different countries were represented, with the highest number of data points of prevalence estimates coming from Finland and Germany (n=19 each, 4.3%). The overall prevalence of
chronic pain in children and adolescents was 20.8%, with the highest prevalence for headache and musculoskeletal pain (25.7%). Overall, and for all types of pain except for back pain and musculoskeletal pain, there were significant differences in prevalence between boys and girls, with girls having a higher prevalence of pain. There was high heterogeneity (I2 99.9%). Overall risk of bias was low to moderate. In summary, approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents experience chronic pain, prevalence varies by pain type and for most types, girls experience higher pain prevalence than boys. Findings echo and expand upon the systematic review conducted in 2011.
chronic non-disease-related pain prevalence in children or adolescents (age 19 years) were included. Two independent reviewers screened papers based on a priori protocol. 119 studies with a total of 1,043,878 children (52.0% female, mean age 13.4yrs [SD 2.4]) were included. 71 different countries were represented, with the highest number of data points of prevalence estimates coming from Finland and Germany (n=19 each, 4.3%). The overall prevalence of
chronic pain in children and adolescents was 20.8%, with the highest prevalence for headache and musculoskeletal pain (25.7%). Overall, and for all types of pain except for back pain and musculoskeletal pain, there were significant differences in prevalence between boys and girls, with girls having a higher prevalence of pain. There was high heterogeneity (I2 99.9%). Overall risk of bias was low to moderate. In summary, approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents experience chronic pain, prevalence varies by pain type and for most types, girls experience higher pain prevalence than boys. Findings echo and expand upon the systematic review conducted in 2011.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Pain |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 18 Mar 2024 |
Bibliographical note
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSSources of Funding and Support: This work was supported by an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; FRN167902) awarded to CTC. CTC is the senior author and is supported by a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair with infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. CL was supported by an IWK Health Summer Studentship [1025420]. PRT was supported by a Scholars Award from Research Nova Scotia, a Nova Scotia
Graduate Scholarship, and an IWK Graduate Studentship Award. JD was supported by a CIHR Fellowship (FRN181869).
Data transparency and sharing: As this is a review, no new data have been generated. Acknowledgement: A thank you is extended to Dr. G. Allen Finley (Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University & Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health) for his clinical perspective at the early stages of this project. A thank you is also extended to Dr. Samuel Stewart (Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University) who provided data analytical support at the early stages of this project and Jessica Savoie (Research Assistant, IWK Health) and Alicia Reid (Research Assistant, IWK Health) for assisting with data verification.
Keywords
- EPIDEMIOLOGY
- paediatrics
- pain
- chronic pain
- prevalence
- headache
- back pain
- musculoskeletal pain