Profiles of adult people in a Spanish sample with chronic pain: Cluster analysis

Aim: To establish groups of people with chronic non-cancer pain according to the impairment caused by pain and to identify factors associated with the group with a higher level of impairment.

Background: Knowing the profiles of people who suffer from chronic non-cancer pain could make it possible to direct their treatment and to detect associated risks.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: A sample of 395 people with chronic non-cancer pain was collected in Pain Units and Primary Healthcare Centres in southern Spain (January to March 2020). A cluster analysis was performed to divide the population into groups and a binary logistic regression model was established to determine factors associated with the group with a higher level of impairment.

Results: Two groups were identified: lower level of impairment due to pain, characterized by being 45-65 years old, not medicated with opioids or anxiolytics, employed and with a mild level of impact on daily life; and higher level of impairment characterized by being older than 65 years old, medicated with opioids and anxiolytics, retired or on medical leave and with a severe impact on daily life. In addition, among women, being widowed, single or a smoker are risk factors for belonging to the group with a higher level of impairment; being smokers or consuming alcohol three or less times a week would be risk factors in men.

Conclusions: Age, chronic non-cancer pain impact on daily life, work situation and the consumption of opioid drugs and/or anxiolytics are factors that appear to influence the level of impairment due to chronic pain.

Impact: These findings could help detect impairment due to pain in its early stages, determining the specific needs of each person.