The DOI matches its Crossref record; 30 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Severe chronic pain is associated with increased 10 year mortality. A cohort record linkage study
Abstract
Previous research has clearly demonstrated a link between chronic pain and poor health, and has suggested a link with increased mortality, though the latter is less consistent. In 1996 a cohort of 6940 individuals was recruited, and information collected, about reported chronic pain status, general health and socio‐demographic details. Ten years later, a record linkage was conducted between these data and the routinely collected national dataset for death registration. Primary cause of death was classified according to ICD‐10 codes. Survival analysis was conducted to obtain unadjusted and multi‐adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for all‐cause, system‐specific and disease‐specific mortality by chronic pain status. A total of 5858 (84.4%) of individuals from the original cohort were linked, including 1557 (26.6%) who had died. Survival analysis found significant associations between any reported chronic pain and all‐cause mortality (HR 1.32, 99% CI, 1.14–1.54) and a number of specific causes. However, when we adjusted for socio‐demographic factors and reported long‐term limiting illness, the significant association was lost. Survival among those reporting severe chronic pain was significantly worse than among those reporting mild or no chronic pain. After adjustment for socio‐demographic factors and reported long‐term limiting illness, severe chronic pain remained significantly associated with all‐cause mortality (HR 1.49, 99% CI 1.21–1.84) and all circulatory system disease deaths (HR 1.68, 99% CI 1.20–2.35). The evident association between any chronic pain and increased mortality can apparently be explained by confounding caused by socio‐demographic factors. However, severe chronic pain is associated with increased risk of mortality, independent of socio‐demographic factors.
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In the citing paper
“with other studies linking severe chronic pain to general increased all-cause mortality (Moore 2014a; Torrance 2010).”
From Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews (2017) · cites this paper as Torrance 2010
In the citing paper
“It is of great relevance to primary care that chronic pain is also associated with significant increase in morbidity and mortality [11, 12], with 20–50 % of chronic pain sufferers having co-morbid depression [9, 13, 14•].”
From Identification and Management of Chronic Pain in Primary Care: a Review (2016) · cites this paper as [11]
In the citing paper
“Torrance et al. established that severe chronic pain was significantly associated with all-cause mortality and particularly death from cardiovascular disease [11].”
From Identification and Management of Chronic Pain in Primary Care: a Review (2016) · cites this paper as [11]
In the citing paper
“Such evidence suggests that in assessing patients with chronic pain, physicians should view chronic pain as a serious risk marker for premature mortality [11, 14•].”
From Identification and Management of Chronic Pain in Primary Care: a Review (2016) · cites this paper as [11]
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Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Torrance, N., Elliott, A. M., Lee, A. J., & Smith, B. H.
- Affiliations
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Torrance, Nicola
- Venue
- European Journal of Pain
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-04
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 380-386
- ISSN
- 1090-3801 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-2149
- OpenAlex
- W2045868248
- Cited by
- 276
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 7.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Pain (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Chronic Disease Management Strategies
- Keywords
- chronic pain, mortality, all-cause mortality, pain intensity, death registration
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Cause of Death, Chronic Disease, Female, Humans, Male, Medical Record Linkage, Middle Aged, Pain, Drug Prescriptions, Surveys and Questionnaires, Socioeconomic Factors, Cohort Studies, Proportional Hazards Models, Survival Analysis
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