One in every five adults in Malta endures chronic pain, a study by the Malta Health Network (MHN) and the No Pain Foundation has found.
Carried out between December last year and January this year, the study is the first to give an insight into the number of patients that suffer from chronic pain. A sample of 1,100 people was used for the research.
According to the network’s findings, some 20% of Malta’s adult population experience pain which persists for longer than three months.
Of these, one in 10 are aged between 18 and 24. The figure shoots up to one in every four when the patient is 45 and over.
Nearly 40 per cent of the younger cohort reported a higher level of impairment to their social activities due to their physical or emotional state as a result of chronic pain.
The study also found that musculoskeletal diseases including arthritis, joint pains and fibromyalgia made up 75% of causes of chronic pain, while 20% resulted from chronic headaches and migraines.
The pain can limit persons in basic activities such as washing and bathing, walking short distances, catching a bus or driving
“The remaining balance is accounted for by cancer, vascular diseases, poor circulation or various injuries. People with chronic pain report that their conditions are limiting their daily activities by varying degrees from lifting a bag with groceries to going up a flight of stairs.
“The pain can limit persons in basic activities such as washing and bathing, walking short distances, catching a bus or driving. This impacts the quality of life of people, causing emotional distress and a sense of failure,” the network noted in a report on its findings that will be published in the coming days to coincide with World Day Against Pain being marked on Friday.
The study also found that 86% of sufferers are absent from work for at least one week every year as a result of chronic pain.
It noted that three-quarters of the respondents identified their family doctor as their first healthcare point of contact for pain-related issues.
“This implies that if primary healthcare fails or is insufficient, these persons are referred to secondary care as first point of contact and possibly management. This would constitute an overload to the system with inefficient use. Therefore, primary care is of prime importance and must be considered as a long-term investment,” the network noted.
The Times of Malta recently revealed that chronic pain patients were having to wait at least a month before they are treated at the Pain Management Clinic at Mater Dei Hospital, with over 300 people currently on the clinic’s waiting list.
Recommendations by the Malta Health Network
Chronic pain should be acknowledged as a disease “in its own right”.
A holistic policy should be drawn up which provides for chronic pain prevention, where possible, and for timely access to appropriate treatment, medicines and other therapeutic interventions, including rehabilitation.
Healthcare professionals should have adequate skills in diagnosing and managing pain effectively.
A National Pain Plan should be established which provides for inter-ministerial collaboration.