Sex-based differences in pain distribution in a cohort of patients with persistent post-traumatic neck pain

Hans Westergren*, Johan Larsson, Michael Freeman, Anna Carlsson, Anna Joud, Eva-Maj Malmstrom

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze a cohort of 745 consecutive patients referred to a regional specialist clinic for evaluation of post-traumatic neck pain during a five-year period. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of baseline assessments performed by multi-professional rehabilitation teams according to a standardized checklist. Results: The cohort contained nearly twice as many females as males (64% versus 36%). The type of injury did not differ between sexes. Of the entire cohort, 38% were diagnosed with widespread pain, 50% with regional pain, and 12% with local pain. The pain distribution among the females was 43% widespread, 48% regional, and 9% local, and corresponding figures among males were 29%, 53%, and 18%. Longer time between trauma and assessment did not affect pain distribution among the men, but a tendency towards more widespread pain was observed among the women. Discussion: The importance of "female sex" as risk factor for the development of persistent pain after neck trauma needs to be discussed further. The high frequency of regional and widespread pain among patients with persistent neck pain after trauma calls for both multidisciplinary assessments and treatment strategies. The relationships between different pain distribution patterns, disability, activity, and psychological factors need to be studied further.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1085-1091
Number of pages7
JournalDisability and Rehabilitation
Volume40
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Whiplash trauma
  • persistent pain
  • pain distribution
  • sex characteristics
  • gender differences
  • WHIPLASH-ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
  • 2000-2010 TASK-FORCE
  • CENTRAL SENSITIZATION
  • REAR IMPACT
  • GENDER
  • INJURY
  • FIBROMYALGIA
  • POPULATION
  • SPINE
  • HYPERSENSITIVITY

Cite this