Glucose regulation and chronic pain at multiple sites.

Abstract

To analyse how glucose regulation status is associated with chronic regional pain and chronic widespread pain (CWP) in the adult population. A structured interview and health examination study with 480 participants aged 30-65 yrs was carried out in Lapinlahti municipality in eastern Finland. The number of painful sites in the right or left upper and lower extremities, shoulders and hips, and in neck and back was summated. Those subjects with chronic pain in at least four sites were defined as having CWP. Diabetes and glucose tolerance status diagnosis were based on self-reported diagnoses, reimbursed medication and laboratory tests. Subjects with impaired fasting plasma glucose and/or elevated 2-h glucose level were combined into a group of impaired glucose regulation (IGR). Of the total sample, 55 subjects (11%) had diabetes. The prevalence of CWP was 13% (n = 62) in all subjects. The corresponding percentages for subjects with normal glucose regulation, IGR and diabetes were 9, 18 and 28%. In the multivariate analysis, diabetes was associated with CWP (odds ratio = 2.99; 95% CI 1.19, 7.53; P = 0.020). These results point to a significant association between diabetes and CWP in the adult population.