Pain
Prevalence of Chronic Pain in the Adult Population
Source: National Institutes of Health: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 20 percent of Americans deal with chronic pain, and 8 percent deal with high-impact chronic pain (severe chronic pain that significantly interferes with everyday life).
Populations more likely to have chronic pain:
- Non-hispanic white adults
- Veterans
Populations more likely to have chronic pain and/or high-impact chronic pain (HICP):
- Women
- Older adults
- Adults living in poverty
- Rural residents
- Currently unemployed, but previously employed, adults
- Adults with public health insurance
- People 65 and older with both Medicare and Medicaid
Populations less likely to have chronic pain:
- People with a bachelor’s degree or higher education
Among these groups, socioeconomic status is a common factor in the prevalence of people with high-impact chronic pain. Indicators of socioeconomic status (education, poverty and health insurance coverage) seem to be a factor in the prevalence of high-impact chronic pain.
Identifying populations at risk for chronic pain is essential in creating affordable, accessible health care services.