Abstract
PDF- 2022;25;87-93No Differences in Pain Scores and Treatment Response in Patients from Different Socioeconomic Areas Within the City of Chicago
Retrospective Analysis
Nebojsa Nick Knezevic, MD, PhD, Kenneth D. Candido, MD, Scott M. Fisher, DO, Ryan Jacobs, MD, and Iulia Pirvulescu, MS.
BACKGROUND: It is well established that the experience of chronic pain significantly differs among ethnic-racial groups. There is mixed evidence to suggest that societal influences may contribute to pain prevalence among cultural groups and their treatment response. One possible explanation for differences in pain experience are the differences in socioeconomic status among patients with chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is any difference in pain scores or treatment responses among patients with different socioeconomic status.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis.
SETTING: Outpatient pain clinic.
METHODS: After approval from the Advocate Healthcare Institutional Review Board, we included 1,149 patients treated for different chronic pain conditions who were followed for at least 12 months. Patients were stratified into quartiles determined by median income according to ZIP code.
LIMITATIONS: This is a single center study and may have limitations in extrapolating to the general population.
CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that there are no differences in pain perception or treatment responses in patients from different socioeconomic statuses despite differences among groups in age, BMI, race, utilization of opioid medications, and MME at first visit. Patients at this pain practice appear to have been treated with similar modalities regardless of socioeconomic status.
KEY WORDS: Pain experience, pain perception, treatment response, opioid utilization, socioeconomic status, income, race, ethnicity