• Ulf Jakobsson.
• Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. ulf.jakobsson@med.lu.se
• Pain Med. 2008 Nov 1;9(8):1091-7.

ObjectiveTo study the relationship between tobacco use and pain intensity.DesignAn age-stratified cross-sectional study was carried out in southern Sweden in 2005.SampleThe population study consists of 384 people, aged 18-102 years, with chronic pain.MeasurementData collection took place by means of a postal questionnaire. Comparisons of pain intensity were made between smokers and nonsmokers, and between users and nonusers of moist snuff. A multiple linear regression analysis was carried out in order to identify the determinants of pain intensity.ResultsAmong respondents with chronic pain, smokers experienced a higher pain intensity than nonsmokers, although there was no evidence of such a difference among snuff users. The regression analysis revealed that gender (i.e., women) and smoking significantly increased pain intensity.ConclusionsPain intensity was highest among daily smokers and those who had quit. Thus, interventions to prevent smoking (to stop smoking and in particular not to start smoking) among people with chronic pain may not only be considered a method to improve health but also to reduce pain.

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