Experience and Management of Chronic Pain among Patients with Other Complex Chronic Conditions

Sarah L. Krein, PhD, RN

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Ann Arbor, MI

Although chronic pain produces well-documented negative consequences for affected individuals and society as a whole, little is known about the interactions between chronic pain and other comorbid chronic conditions. To address this knowledge gap, primary care patients with chronic pain from the US Department of Veterans Affairs were surveyed about their experiences and the effects of other complex chronic conditions. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: heart failure, diabetes, and general primary care. More than 60% of patients in each group reported chronic pain, frequently in the upper or lower back, hip, and/or knee. Not surprisingly, patients with chronic pain were more likely to report fair or poor health, activity limitations, and an inability to work compared with patients without pain. To manage pain, more than 70% of patients took medications, more than half turned to rest or sedentary activities, and fewer than 50% engaged in exercise programs. These results demonstrate that chronic pain is prevalent and associated with poor functioning in patients with other chronic conditions, highlighting the need for improved management strategies for complex multimorbid patients.

References

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