The Clinical journal of pain
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Are demographic variables (age, gender, sex, and marital status) predictors of chronic pain and chronic pain disability? ⋯ The studies provided limited and conflicting evidence (level 4b) that either increasing age or sex correlates with chronic pain and chronic pain disability. Marital status and education both showed conflicting evidence (level 4b) of a correlation with chronic pain. Age and sex express different risks for disease, severity of injury, and occupational opportunities and choices. Demographic factors can modify the effect of other factors with which they interact. Future identification of predictors of chronic pain should include control for age and gender (level 3).
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Can either a history of previous similar injury, including recurrence of injury, or an individual's symptoms, including time off work, predict chronic pain and/or chronic pain disability? ⋯ The studies provide moderate evidence (level 2) that a history of previous similar pain predicts subsequent reports of pain and limited evidence (level 3) that a history of similar pain predicts poorer outcomes after recurrent injury. The studies also provide moderate evidence (level 2) that longer duration of pain predicts the occurrence of subsequent reports of pain and limited evidence (level 3) that longer time off work before treatment predicts poorer activity and poorer participation outcomes after recurrent injury.
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To determine perception and pain thresholds in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and in healthy controls, and to investigate whether patients with fibromyalgia syndrome can be grouped with respect to thermal hyperalgesia and whether these subgroups differ from healthy controls and in clinical appearance. ⋯ Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome were subgrouped by quantitative sensory testing (i.e., thermal pain thresholds). Subgroups show clinical differences in pain intensities, number of tender points, and sleep quality. Cold pain threshold was especially linked to these clinical aspects.