Open AccessPain prevalence and chronicity in a developing country in Latin America: a population-based survey in Lima, Peru
Author(s) -
Enrique Orrillo Leyva,
Ian Falvy-Bockos,
Carlos L Vela Barba,
Daniel Arbaiza Aldazabal,
Carolina Estrada Vitorino,
Jorge A García-Mostajo,
Héctor Valderrama Atauje,
Luis Felipe Rojas Cama,
Percy Soto-Becerra
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
pain management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1758-1877
pISSN - 1758-1869
DOI - 10.2217/pmt-2022-0061
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , chronic pain , population , metropolitan area , prevalence , demography , physical therapy , environmental health , sociology , pathology
Background: No population-based epidemiological studies have estimated pain prevalence and its characteristics in Peru. Patients & methods: A representative sample of adults aged over 18 years (n = 502) living in metropolitan Lima, Peru was enrolled. We analyzed prevalence data of pain in the last 3 months and other pain-related characteristics. Results: Pain prevalence was 65.3% (95% CI: 57.7-70.4%). Chronic pain prevalence was 38.5% (95% CI: 33.5-44.0%) and acute pain prevalence was 24.8% (95% CI: 20.7-29.0%). In participants with chronic pain, almost half (55.7%) reported having not used any medication. Conclusion: Pain is prevalent in this population and our results suggest high undertreatment rates.