Table 1: Level of pain related to estimated affected Scottish population Level of pain How they fit Percentage of Number of into the general population people in Scottish service reported in Scotland* literature Any chronic pain Majority manage 35.0-51.3 (ref Fayaz 1.9 million to 2.8m themselves or 2016) million with level 2 Moderate to with level 1, 10.4-14.3 (ref 562,000 773,000 – severely disabling most manage 2016) chronic pain (CPG with level 2 III & IV) Severe chronic with level 1, 4.9-6.5 (ref Smith 265,000 - 351,000 pain (CPG IV) then 2, then 2001) referred to level 3, a minority go onto level 4 *Based on 2016 mid-year Scottish population estimate 5,404,700 (38) CPG = chronic pain Co-morbidity with chronic pain Chronic pain may occur in isolation but more usually it occurs in association with other comorbidities (7). In Scotland in 2016, 16.2% of patients with diabetes, 14.8% with cancer, and 19.3% with anxiety or depression, were also being prescribed medication that is used for chronic pain (although the patient may be using this medication for another purpose, i.e. acute pain or epilepsy (Table 2). However, the proportion of patients who were comorbid for chronic pain with diabetes, cancer, or anxiety or depression varied by NHS Board, with the Borders, Lanarkshire, Tayside and Ayrshire and Arran having consistently higher proportions of co-prescribing. Barnett et al’s work would suggest that there is increased co-morbidity in patients from deprived areas (7).
Table 1: Level of pain related to estimated affected Scottish population Level of pain How they fit into the Scottish service Percentage of general population reported in literature Number of people in Scotland* Any chronic pain Majority manage themselves or with level 2 35.0-51.3 (ref Fayaz 2016) 1.9 million to 2.8m million Moderate to severely disabling chronic pain (CPG III & IV) with level 1, most manage with level 2 10.4-14.3 (ref 2016) 562,000 – 773,000 Severe chronic pain (CPG IV) with level 1, then 2, then referred to level 3, a minority go onto level 4 4.9-6.5 (ref Smith 2001) 265,000 - 351,000 *Based on 2016 mid-year Scottish population estimate 5,404,700 (38) CPG = chronic pain Co-morbidity with chronic pain Chronic pain may occur in isolation but more usually it occurs in association with other comorbidities (7). In Scotland in 2016, 16.2% of patients with diabetes, 14.8% with cancer, and 19.3% with anxiety or depression, were also being prescribed medication that is used for chronic pain (although the patient may be using this medication for another purpose, i.e. acute pain or epilepsy (Table 2). However, the proportion of patients who were comorbid for chronic pain with diabetes, cancer, or anxiety or depression varied by NHS Board, with the Borders, Lanarkshire, Tayside and Ayrshire and Arran having consistently higher proportions of co-prescribing. Barnett et al’s work would suggest that there is increased co-morbidity in patients from deprived areas (7).
2018_07_11-Chronic-pain-HNA-Final.docx