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Prevalence of chronic pain in Brazil: A systematic review and meta-analysis The protocol for the review was planned following PRISMA guidelines and registered on Prospero (CRD42021249678).

Abstract

Objective

This review synthesized existing studies on the prevalence of chronic pain in Brazil and its associated factors to produce a recent estimation to guide public health politics.

Methods

A search was carried out in the Ovid Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and BVS Regional/Lilacs databases to identify population-based cross-sectional studies from 2005 to 2020, which reported the prevalence of benign chronic pain in Brazil (more than three months). The risk of bias was assessed using design, sample size determination, and random selection as essential issues. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated for chronic pain in the general and elderly populations. The protocol was registered on Prospero (CRD42021249678).

Results

Of the 682 identified, 15 macheted the authors’ inclusion criteria. Chronic pain prevalence in the general adult population ranged from 23.02% to 41.4% (pooled estimate 35.70%, 95% Cis 30.42 to 41.17) and was described as moderate to intense. It was associated with female sex, old age, lower education, intense professional activity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, central obesity, mood disorder, and sedentarism. The Southeastern and Southern regions presented a higher prevalence. The prevalence in the elderly population ranged from 29.3% to 76.2% (pooled estimate 47.32%, 95% Cis 33.73 to 61.11). In addition, this population visited doctors more frequently, had more sleep disorders, and was more dependent on daily living activities. Almost fifty percent of both populations with chronic pain reported pain-induced disability.

Conclusion

Chronic Pain is highly prevalent in Brazil and associated with significant distress, disability, and poorly controlled.

Keywords
Chronic pain; Prevalence; Risk factors; Systematic review; Meta-analysis

Highlights

  • The prevalence of chronic pain in the adult population (35.70%) and older adults (47.32%).

  • Differs from region to region and is associated with heterogeneous risk factors.

  • Manifested mainly with moderate or severe intensity and with an elevated rate of disability.

Highlights

  • The prevalence of chronic pain in the adult population (35.70%) and older adults (47.32%).

  • Differs from region to region and is associated with heterogeneous risk factors.

  • Manifested mainly with moderate or severe intensity and with an elevated rate of disability.

Introduction

Chronic Pain (CP) is a common, complex, and distressing disorder. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), CP is “pain which has persisted beyond normal tissue healing time”, which, in the absence of other factors, is generally taken to be 3 to 6 months or longer.11 Merskey H. Logic, truth and language in concepts of pain. Qual Life Res. 1994;3(S1):S69-76. Although commonly present due to an injury or a disease, chronic pain is no longer considered just a symptom but rather a disease. It is a multidimensional phenomenon that involves physical, psychological, and sociocultural aspects and impacts the individual's health and well-being, health care services, and society.

CP is an underestimated healthcare problem, impacting the quality of life.22 Murray C.B., Groenewald C.B., de la Vega R., Palermo T.M. Long-term impact of adolescent chronic pain on young adult educational, vocational, and social outcomes. Pain. 2020;161(2):439-45. It has been highlighted as one of the most prominent causes of disability worldwide by the Global Burden of Disease reviews. The systematic analysis considered global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and Year Lived with Disability (YLD) for 354 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 195 countries between 1990 and 2017. Over the 28 years studied, low back pain, headache disorders, and depressive disorders have prevailed as three of the top four leading diseases/conditions that caused people to live with a disability. The persistence of depressive disorders and low back pain is significant given the former's relation with self-harm and the latter with a potential loss of functional status in the workforce.33 GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1789-858.

Many countries recognize that chronic pain represents a major priority and challenge for their public health and healthcare systems. In this sense, it is essential to know the prevalence of chronic pain in each population to define appropriate strategies.

Worldwide, one in five adults suffers from pain, and 1 in 10 adults is diagnosed with chronic pain each year, according to IASP data.11 Merskey H. Logic, truth and language in concepts of pain. Qual Life Res. 1994;3(S1):S69-76. While pain affects all populations, regardless of age, sex, income, race/ethnicity, or geography, it is not equally distributed globally since its prevalence is associated with social and economic conditions. Factors such as Pain coping, and racial/ethnic, occupational, or cultural differences could partially explain this difference.44 Poleshuck E.L., Green C.R. Socioeconomic disadvantage and pain. Pain. 2008;136(3):235-8.

Brazil is a continental country with significant regional population variability. Data on the prevalence of chronic pain in the country are poor, especially when analyzing neglected subgroups (such as the elderly population, for example) and records from the 5 regions of the country. Therefore, determining chronic pain prevalence in different regions in Brazil and its associated risk factors is essential to guide public health policies.

The primary aim of this review was to synthesize existing data on the prevalence of chronic pain in the adult Brazilian population, through representative studies of the 5 regions of the country, to produce more accurate national estimates. The secondary aim is to explore the type, intensity, location and characteristics of the pain of the population evaluated by the studies and whether sociodemographic, geographic, and psychosocial characteristics are related to prevalence estimates.

Material and methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis are reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis PRISMA. The study protocol was submitted to the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021249678).

Search strategy and study selection

The authors searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and BVS Regional/Lilacs from 2005 to 09/2020 (confirmed after six months: March 2021). The following medical subject heading (MeSh) and text terms were used (Supplemental Table 1) and run with Endnote software.

Eligibility criteria

The authors included all full-text articles published since 2005 that determined the prevalence of benign chronic pain, lasting three months or longer, in Brazil. The inclusion criteria used were cross-sectional population-based surveys with an adult population aged over 18 years, with self-report diagnoses, written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.

Reasons for exclusion included the following: (1) Not report the prevalence of benign chronic pain; (2) Conference papers; (3) Reviews; (4) Data from medical record reviews; (5) Studies from which more than one publication has arisen or (6) Abstracts without full text.

Study outcome

Prevalence of chronic pain

The primary outcome was the prevalence of benign chronic pain in adults. Although the specific interpretation of chronic pain may differ across studies, the authors applied the following definition of chronic pain as the basis for inclusion: pain lasting 3 months or longer.11 Merskey H. Logic, truth and language in concepts of pain. Qual Life Res. 1994;3(S1):S69-76. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were classified according to the type of pain investigated, specifically by organ system and anatomic structure per criteria established by the ACTTION55 Dworkin R.H., Bruehl S., Fillingim R.B., Loeser J.D., Terman G.W., Turk D.C. Multidimensional diagnostic criteria for chronic pain: introduction to the ACTTION-American pain society pain taxonomy (AAPT). J Pain. 2016;17(9 Suppl):T1-9. ‒ American Pain Society Pain Taxonomy: These categories included the following: (1) Widespread musculoskeletal pain, (2) Localized musculoskeletal pain, (3) Low back/spinal pain, (4) Neuropathic pain (eg, neuralgia) and (5) Headache.

Sociodemographic, geographic, and psychosocial factors related to chronic pain

The authors explored variation in chronic pain prevalence by demographic, geographic, and psychosocial factors known to be related to risk for chronic conditions. Depending on the available data, these factors included but were not limited to (1) Sociodemographic variables (eg, sex, ethnicity/race, occupation, and education), (2) Geographic region, and (3) Psychological and behavioral health variables (eg, depression, anxiety, obesity, and disability).

Data extraction and risk of bias

After removing the duplicated articles, five researchers (B.V.M.S.; A.B.G.A.; GMRS, M.F.S.; and P.E.B.) trained by the first and third authors (M.P.; N.R.V) extracted data from each article meeting the inclusion criteria using a data extraction form, which was double coded by either the primary or third author; discrepancies were resolved by consensus.

The authors made a standardized form ‒ with an Excel sheet ‒ to extract meaningful information: study locations, year of article publication and data collection, study designs, number and age of the individuals in each study, the period of chronic pain considered in the studies, the prevalence of benign chronic pain (Table 1).

Table 1
Details of selected studies.

The factors associated with chronic pain were also extracted from the studies: sex; educational level; occupational activity, alcohol consumption; smoker status; central obesity; mental disorder; time activity; self-perception of health; marital status, and region of the country) and will be discussed in this review.

In addition, two researchers assessed the risk of bias for each study using a score of nine items, adapted from Hoy et al.,66 Hoy D., Brooks P., Woolf A., Blyth F., March L., Bain C., et al. Assessing risk of bias in prevalence studies: modification of an existing tool and evidence of interrater agreement. J Clin Epidemiol. 2012;65(9):934-9. to evaluate the articles and, depending on the score, classified as low risk (score 0‒3), moderate risk (score 4‒6), and high risk (score 7‒9) (Supplemental Table 2). Finally, one other researcher helped in the decision process in case of disagreements between reviewers' judgments.

Missing data

If authors reported incomplete information (eg, providing the prevalence rate in a figure only), they were contacted by the first author (B.V.M.S) with a request to submit this information. Specifically, the authors asked the authors to provide missing descriptive data (i.e., frequencies) to determine prevalence rates in the adult age group (eg, the total number of adults in the sample, number of adults with pain condition and breakout by sex, when possible). Those without a working email were contacted through Research Gate. A reminder was sent 2 weeks after the first contact in case the authors had not responded. If a response was not obtained, the study was excluded.

Data analysis and syntheses

The authors used a descriptive statistic (percentage) to summarize the prevalence rate from individual studies. Data analyses were performed using RStudio (version 2.1.4). For all tests, p < 0.05 was deemed significant.

Random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate prevalence estimates owing to the high expected heterogeneity between studies. Prevalence statistics were depicted using the event rate. Ninety-five percent Confidence Intervals (CIs) were calculated using the sample size (n) and standard error. The authors calculated an overall prevalence rate across all pain conditions and prevalence rates stratified by pain condition.

The authors assessed the heterogeneity of prevalence estimates among studies using both the Begg's Test and I2 statistics. For the I2 index, values of 75% or higher represented high degrees of heterogeneity.

Subgroup analyses

The summaries were described into two groups: the prevalence of benign chronic pain in the general adult population and the elderly population. In addition, the risk/associated factors related to chronic pain were described.

Results

Search results

The authors selected 682 articles for screening, being that 128 were duplicates. Then, after additional screening by title and abstract from the 554 that remained, the researchers excluded 475 articles. Finally, the authors (N.R.V.; and B.V.M.S.;) read the full text of the 79 remaining papers. 64 articles excluded: 54 = did not report the prevalence of chronic pain; 2 = data from medical records reviews; 2 = studies in which more than one publication has arisen; 4 = abstract without full text (authors did not respond) and 2 = selection bias. 15 studies were eligible for final analysis (Table 1).77 Blay S.L., Andreoli S.B., Gastal F.L. Chronic painful physical conditions, disturbed sleep and psychiatric morbidity: results from an elderly survey. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2007;19(3):169-74.

8 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.

9 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34.

10 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.

11 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.

12 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.

13 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.

15 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96.

16 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9.

17 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.

18 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47.

19 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10.

20 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830.
-2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9. The full process and reasons for exclusion can be found in the PRISMA flow diagram (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
Flow diagram of researched articles.

Characteristics of the included studies

Supplemental Table 2 displays the overall characteristics of the studies included in the meta-analysis. The 15 included studies were published between 2005 and 2020. Sample sizes ranged from 383 to 6.963, including a total of 27.773 participants.

The studies showed wide variations in chronic pain prevalence; therefore, the authors reported the prevalence of the adult and elderly populations.

Study quality and risk of bias

Supplemental Table 2 displays the score of risk of study bias, showing how many of the 9 criteria adapted from the Hoy et al.66 Hoy D., Brooks P., Woolf A., Blyth F., March L., Bain C., et al. Assessing risk of bias in prevalence studies: modification of an existing tool and evidence of interrater agreement. J Clin Epidemiol. 2012;65(9):934-9. Quality ratings ranged from 0 to 1. All articles had a low score of bias.

The 15 final studies selected applied different surveys methods: twelve studies performed domiciliar interviews (80%);77 Blay S.L., Andreoli S.B., Gastal F.L. Chronic painful physical conditions, disturbed sleep and psychiatric morbidity: results from an elderly survey. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2007;19(3):169-74.

8 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.

9 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34.
-1010 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.

13 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.

15 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96.

16 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9.

17 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.
-1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47.,2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9. one study used a computer-assisted telephone interview;1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8. another accessed the responders by their cell phone using a private database to random the sample,2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830. and one interviewed the users of 38 units of primary care offices.1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. Ten articles determined the sample size for the chronic pain prevalence study,1010 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.

11 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.

12 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.

13 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.
-1414 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.,1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9.

17 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.

18 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47.

19 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10.
-2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830. and twelve selected the responders in a random approach.99 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34.

10 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.

11 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.

12 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.

13 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.

15 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96.

16 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9.

17 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.
-1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47.,2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830.,2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9.

Different periods for chronic pain were established by studies. As listed in Table 1, pain duration of > 6 months was the most used definition of chronic pain (n= 9; 60% of studies), followed by pain lasting > 3 months (n= 6; 40% of studies).

Regarding geographic factors related to the prevalence of chronic pain, it should be noted that of the 15 articles that were included in this review, six had participants from the Southern region and eight from the Southeastern region (Table 1).

Stratified prevalence of chronic pain in adults and elderly population

Prevalence of chronic pain in the adult population

Eight studies presented prevalence data of chronic pain in the adult population.88 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.
-1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96.,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.,1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10.,2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830. In addition, five studies evaluated the respondents by a domiciliary interview,88 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.
-1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96.,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506. one by consultation of primary care users,1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. one by telephone interview,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8. and one by cell phone interview. The reported prevalence of chronic pain in the adult population ranged from 23.02% to 42.33%, and the overall median prevalence was 35.70% (95% Cis 30.42 to 41.17) I2= 98% / p= 0.01 (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
Pooled estimates for chronic pain prevalence in the general adult population by publication date and by subgroups.

In addition, the articles reported data on the population from different regions of Brazil, and male participants comprised between 27.6% and 48%.

Heterogenicity of the studies of the adult population

The studies showed a difference in sex and age distribution that could justify different categories. The difference was also apparent regarding geography (Fig. 3): three studies described the prevalence in São Paulo City,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.,1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96. the biggest city in Brazil; one from diverse regions (Northern, Northeastern, Midwest, Southeastern, and Southern);2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830. three from Northeastern (Maranhão and Bahia),88 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.,1414 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506. a more impoverished area;2222 IBGE | Biblioteca | Detalhes | Síntese de indicadores sociais : uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira : 2021 /IBGE, Coordenação de População e Indicadores Sociais [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 22]. Available from: https://biblioteca.ibge.gov.br/index.php/biblioteca-catalogo?view=detalhes&id=2101892.
https://biblioteca.ibge.gov.br/index.php...
and one from Southern1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. (Pelotas) a region with a higher number of elderly2323 IBGE | Projeção da população [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 22]. Available from: https://www.ibge.gov.br/apps/populacao/projecao/index.html.
https://www.ibge.gov.br/apps/populacao/p...
(Table 1).

Fig. 3
The figure shows the map of Brazil with the identification of the regions where the surveys were carried out and the representation of the sample sizes (author and year of publication).

Factors associated with chronic pain in the adult population

The studies found an association between chronic pain and gender (female),88 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.
-1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96.,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.,1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10.,2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9. older age,88 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.
-1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96.,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.,1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. lower educational level,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.,1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96. intense or heavy occupational activity,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91. excessive alcohol consumption for women,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506. smoking in men and ex-smoker status in both men and women,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506. presence of central obesity,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506. anxiety, mood, and mental disorder,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.,1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96. lower laze time activity, and negative self-perception of health.1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. The Southeastern and Southern regions presented a higher prevalence,2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9. and when respondents indicated their marital status as separated, widowed, divorced, or single, they reported less pain.

Pain intensity and site in the adult population

The more frequent pain sites were the lumbar region,88 Cordeiro Q., Khouri M.E., Ota D., Ciampi D., Corbett C.E. Lombalgia e cefaléia como aspectos importantes da dor crônica na atenção primária à saúde em uma comunidade da região amazônica brasileira. Acta Fisiátrica. 2008.15(2),101-105.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.,1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506.,1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. cephalic region,1414 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51. joints,1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96. legs and feet,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8. and upper limbs.2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830. The most frequent location for the responders with chronic pain with neuropathic characteristics was the lower limbs.1414 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51. One study found a prevalence of 15% of widespread pain.2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830. In addition, one study reported a prevalence of neuropathic pain of 10%, evaluated by the Douleur Neuropathic 4 Questions (DN4) tools.1414 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51. Four articles presented the responders’ mean average pain as moderate.1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.,1313 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.

14 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.
-1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96. Another described that 92.4% classified their pain as moderate, intense, strong, or unsupported,1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. and one study reported pain-induced disability in 52.7% of the responders.2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830.

Chronic pain prevalence in the elderly

Seven articles presented the prevalence of chronic pain, through domiciliary interviews, in the elderly population.77 Blay S.L., Andreoli S.B., Gastal F.L. Chronic painful physical conditions, disturbed sleep and psychiatric morbidity: results from an elderly survey. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2007;19(3):169-74.,99 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34.,1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.,1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9.,1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47.,2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9. In addition, they assessed the people from different regions in Brazil: one from São Paulo city,99 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34. four from the Southern region,77 Blay S.L., Andreoli S.B., Gastal F.L. Chronic painful physical conditions, disturbed sleep and psychiatric morbidity: results from an elderly survey. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2007;19(3):169-74.,99 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34.,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.,1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47. one from Belo Horizonte (Southeastern),2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9. and another from Goiania (Midwest).1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9. The prevalence of chronic pain ranged from 29.66% to 76.20%, and the overall median prevalence was 47.32% (95% Cis 33.73 to 61.11) I2= 100% / p =0.034 (Fig. 2). Male participants comprised between 29% and 56.7% (Table 1).

Factors associated with chronic pain in the elderly population

The studies found an association between chronic pain in the elderly and gender (female),77 Blay S.L., Andreoli S.B., Gastal F.L. Chronic painful physical conditions, disturbed sleep and psychiatric morbidity: results from an elderly survey. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2007;19(3):169-74.,1010 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.,1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9.,1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47. lower years of education,1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47. the economic situation,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.,1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47. lower laze time activity, 1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47. sedentarism,1010 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82. and presence of chronic disease.1010 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.,1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9. In addition, responders with chronic pain visited doctors more frequently in the last 12 months,2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9. had more sleep disorders,77 Blay S.L., Andreoli S.B., Gastal F.L. Chronic painful physical conditions, disturbed sleep and psychiatric morbidity: results from an elderly survey. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2007;19(3):169-74. and were more dependent on daily living.1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.

Pain intensity and pain site in the elderly population

The more frequent pain sites in the elderly responders were lower limbs,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.,1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9. joints,77 Blay S.L., Andreoli S.B., Gastal F.L. Chronic painful physical conditions, disturbed sleep and psychiatric morbidity: results from an elderly survey. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2007;19(3):169-74. and the lumbar region.99 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34. One study found that 15.1% of the responders reported feeling pain in more than three locations.1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9. In addition, the majority of the individuals with chronic pain described their pain intensity as moderate or severe,99 Dellaroza M.S.G., Pimenta CA de M., Duarte Y.A., Lebrão M.L. Dor crônica em idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: prevalência, características e associação com capacidade funcional e mobilidade (Estudo SABE). Cad Saúde Pública. 2013;29(2):325-34.,1010 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.,1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9.,1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47. and 48.2% had pain-related disabilities.2121 Torres J.L., da Silva S.L.A., Ferreira F.R., Mendes L.P.S., Machado L.A. Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study. Fam Pract. 2019;36(5):594-9.

Discussion

This systematic review revealed that the prevalence of benign chronic pain in Brazil is high, worst in the elderly population, differs from region to region and is associated with heterogeneous risk factors. Besides, chronic pain is manifested mainly with moderate or severe intensity and with an elevated rate of disability.

The articles presented variability in the methods and groups studied; therefore, the authors summarized the data from studies that evaluated the prevalence of benign chronic pain in the adult population and the elderly population. Thus, the estimated prevalence of chronic pain in the adult population and older adults is 35.70% and 47.32%, respectively.

Brazil is a continental country with a heterogeneous population and great social inequality. Consequently, gender distribution, domicile location (rural or urban),2424 Retrato das Desigualdades de Gênero e Raça - Ipea [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jul 25]. Available from: https://www.ipea.gov.br/retrato/indicadores_populacao.html.
https://www.ipea.gov.br/retrato/indicado...
access to health care,2525 Baqui P., Bica I., Marra V., Ercole A., van der Schaar M. Ethnic and regional variations in hospital mortality from COVID-19 in Brazil: a cross-sectional observational study. Lancet Glob Health. 2020;8(8):e1018-26. and average life expectancy (lower in the north and higher in the south)2626 Lista de unidades federativas do Brasil por expectativa de vida. In: Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 25]. Available from: https://pt.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lista_de_unidades_federativas_do_Brasil_por_expectativa_de_vida&oldid=61440059.
https://pt.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?tit...
vary from region to region or even in the city's distinct neighborhoods.2727 Mapa-da-Desigualdade-2020-TABELAS-1.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jul 26]. Available from: https://www.nossasaopaulo.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Mapa-da-Desigualdade-2020-TABELAS-1.pdf.
https://www.nossasaopaulo.org.br/wp-cont...
Thus, determining chronic pain prevalence in Brazil is a great challenge since chronic pain is associated with age, gender, chronic disease, and social condition. Understanding all these regional peculiarities and their impact on health is essential to guide the politics of public health.

Sá et al.,2828 Sá K.N., Moreira L., Baptista A.F., Yeng L.T., Teixeira M.J., Galhardoni R., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in developing countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Rep. 2019;4(6):e779. in a meta-analysis, described a prevalence of chronic pain of 18% in developing countries. However, the presence of a young population, a more significant number of telephone interviews,2929 Donovan R.J., Corti C.D.J.H. and B, Jalleh G. Face-to-face household interviews versus telephone interviews for health surveys. Aust N Z J Public Health. 1997;21(2):134-40. a possible regional influence, and other questions related to the methods of the selected articles would justify this low prevalence. On the other hand, Jackson et al.3030 Jackson T., Thomas S., Stabile V., Shotwell M., Han X., McQueen K. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the global burden of chronic pain without clear etiology in low- and middle-income countries: trends in heterogeneous data and a proposal for new assessment methods. Anesth Analg. 2016;123(3):739-48. described wide variability and high prevalence of chronic pain without clear etiology in low and middle-income countries (26%‒42% in the general population and 41%‒81% in the older people), where the elderly and workers had the higher prevalence, which is similar to the findings of the present research.

In a study in the United Kington (UK), Fayaz et al.3131 Fayaz A., Croft P., Langford R.M., Donaldson L.J., Jones G.T. Prevalence of chronic pain in the UK: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population studies. BMJ Open. 2016;6(6):e010364. described that the prevalence of chronic pain in the general population is 43%. Furthermore, those over 75 years old would be 62% affected. Since the life expectancy is higher in the UK and has an older population, the authors can assume a higher prevalence than in Brazil.

Concerning the pain characteristics, one article found that fifteen percent of the responders had widespread pain,2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830. and in another study, 15.1% of the elderly had pain in more than three locations.1616 Pereira L.V., de Vasconcelos P.P., Souza L.A.F., Pereira G de A, Nakatani A.Y.K., Bachion M.M. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain and self-perceived health among elderly people: a population-based study. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2014;22(4):662-9. Assuming that central sensitization occurs between five to fifteen percent of the general population,3232 Dydyk A.M., Givler A. Central Pain Syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 31]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553027/.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553...
these data suggest nociplastic pain as a possible diagnostic in these groups. In addition, one article found a prevalence of chronic neuropathic pain of 10%, and the site more affected in this group was lower limbs.1414 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51.

Regarding pain intensity, the responders referred to moderate intense. Additionally, in one study, fifty percent reported pain-related disabilities, and 48.7% referred to their pain treatment as “no effect” or “minor effect”.2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830.

Concerning mental health, one article found that responders with pain had 2.3 times more anxiety disorders, 3.3 times more mood disorders, and 2.7 times more mental disorders.1515 Pereira F.G., França M.H., Paiva MCA de, Andrade L.H., Viana M.C. Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders. Rev Saude Publica. 2017;51:96. Stubbs et al.3333 Stubbs B., Vancampfort D., Veronese N., Thompson T., Fornaro M., Schofield P., et al. Depression and pain: primary data and meta-analysis among 237 952 people across 47 low- and middle-income countries. Psychol Med. 2017;47(16):2906-17. described depression and chronic pain are elevated comorbidities present in low and middle-income countries, independent of anxiety and chronic medical conditions. Furthermore, depression was associated with a higher risk for severe pain.

The articles showed an association between lower economic conditions or lower education, suggesting a relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and chronic pain.1111 Leão Ferreira K.A.S., Bastos T.R.P.D., Andrade D.C., Silva A.M., Appolinario J.C., Teixeira M.J., et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in a metropolitan area of a developing country: a population-based study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2016;74(12):990-8.

12 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.

13 Maia Costa Cabral D., Sawaya Botelho Bracher E., Dylese Prescatan Depintor J., Eluf-Neto J. Chronic Pain Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Segment of the Population of São Paulo City. J Pain. 2014;15(11):1081-91.
-1414 de Moraes Vieira E.B., Garcia J.B.S., da Silva A.A.M., Mualem Araújo R.L.T., Jansen R.C.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in São Luís, Brazil. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012;44(2):239-51. Besides, central obesity1717 Sá K.N., Baptista A.F., Matos M.A., Lessa Í. Chronic pain and gender in Salvador population, Brazil. Pain. 2008;139(3):498-506. and sedentarism1010 Ferretti F., Silva MR da, Pegoraro F., Baldo J.E., Sá C.A. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. Braz J Pain. 2019;2(1):3-7.,1212 Lini E.V., Tomicki C., Giacomazzi R.B., Dellani M.P., Doring M., Portella M.R. Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly. Revista Dor. 2016;17(4):279-82.,1818 Santos FAA dos, Souza JB de, Antes D.L., d'Orsi E. Prevalência de dor crônica e sua associação com a situação sociodemográfica e atividade física no lazer em idosos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina: estudo de base populacional. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18(1):234-47.,1919 Souza DF da S de, Häfele V., Siqueira F.V. Dor crônica e nível de atividade física em usuários das unidades básicas de saúde. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2019;24:1-10. were associated with chronic pain. Previous studies support the association of socioeconomic status and chronic pain.3434 Prego-Domínguez J., Khazaeipour Z., Mallah N., Takkouche B. Socioeconomic status and occurrence of chronic pain: a meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021;60(3):1091-105. Issues such as inappropriate use of pain coping strategies, race, ethnicity, occupational reasons, exposition to violence, and absence of familiar or social support are some of the involved factors.33 GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1789-858.

The studies with the largest sample representation of participants who responded to the surveys came from the Southern and Southeastern regions. They demonstrated an overall prevalence of chronic pain in adult subjects ranging from 29.66% to 76.20%. These results can be expected, since there is a higher prevalence of elderly people in the population, in addition to a greater number of studies including these regions. In contrast, the smaller sample representation of participants in the Northern and Midwest regions. This can be explained by the smaller number of local studies including; lower human development index and schooling, which could influence access to diagnosis (mainly in the Northern region), corroborating with the findings of Souza et al.2020 de Souza J.B., Grossmann E., Perissinotti D.M.N., de Oliveira Junior J.O., da Fonseca P.R.B., Posso I de P. Prevalence of chronic pain, treatments, perception, and interference on life activities: brazilian Population-Based Survey. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:4643830.

The present review has the merit of getting together the primary studies about Brazil's prevalence of chronic pain and its associated factors. Almost all selected studies performed face-to-face interviews and had a representative number of responders. However, the authors found some limitations. For example, there was wide variability in the study's method; several studies did not describe the prevalence of the general population, being not eligible. Besides, five eligible studies did not calculate the sample size, and the authors did not perform search references from gray literature. Also, interpretation regarding factors associated with chronic pain should be taken into account with caution since the selected articles were transversal studies. The authors decided to summarize studies performed in the last fifteen years since Brazil's population has changed with progressive aging.2323 IBGE | Projeção da população [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 22]. Available from: https://www.ibge.gov.br/apps/populacao/projecao/index.html.
https://www.ibge.gov.br/apps/populacao/p...
Older studies could not reproduce the actual situation of chronic pain prevalence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the authors have used the best available articles to demonstrate that benign chronic pain is highly prevalent in Brazil and associated with significant distress, disability, and poorly controlled. Such data suggests the necessity of prioritizing this population's access to qualified and experienced professionals in dealing with chronic pain, improving patient education about its chronic condition, and strengthening the biopsychosocial model, especially in primary care.

  • Funding
    This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
  • The protocol for the review was planned following PRISMA guidelines and registered on Prospero (CRD42021249678).

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Mr. Raphael Chança from Centro de Apoio a Pesquisa no Complexo de Saúde da UERJ for helping with the search strategy.

Supplementary materials

Supplementary material associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.clinsp.2023.100209.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    10 July 2023
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    16 Sept 2022
  • Reviewed
    1 Apr 2023
  • Accepted
    18 Apr 2023
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