A recent review on the epidemiology of chronic pain (not limited to postsurgical pain) featured the following table listing factors associated with the development of chronic pain:⁴
There a modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for developing chronic pain. Some nonmodifiable factors include a patient’s genetics, ethnicity, age, and sex which studies show can be related to the type of pain. For example, older adults tend to develop osteoarthritic forms of chronic pain than young patients who develop chronic post-surgical pain.
Other factors such as smoking and alcohol use are shown to correlate with chronic pain development. There is also a link between physical activity, nutrition (including vitamin D deficiency), weight, and sleep.
Mental illness can be linked with chronic pain, with 20-50% of patients chronic pain also suffering from depression. It is likely that one magnifies the other. Similarly, patients with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are more likely to see their primary care doctor for chronic pain concerns.
What this reinforces is that chronic pain is formed from an interplay of sociological, biological, and emotional experiences.
| Factor | |
|---|---|
| Demographic | Age |
| Gender | |
| Ethnicity and cultural background | |
| Socio-economic background | |
| Employment status and occupational factors | |
| Lifestyle and behavior | Smoking |
| Alcohol | |
| Physical activity | |
| Sunshine and vitamin D | |
| Clinical | Pain |
| Multi-morbidity and mortality | |
| Mental health | |
| Surgical and medicinal interventions | |
| Genetics | |
| Other | Attitudes and beliefs about pain |
| History of violent injury, abuse, or interpersonal violence | |