日本における慢性疼痛保有者の実態調査―Pain in Japan 2010より

A Nationwide Survey of Chronic Pain Sufferers in Japan

　背景：現在のわが国の慢性疼痛の有病率の把握と，慢性疼痛の治療実態(1次調査)，患者ニーズの把握(2次調査)を目的として全国調査(インターネットリサーチ)を実施した．

　対象と方法：回収サンプル数は1次調査41,597名，2次調査5,998名で，慢性疼痛の有病率は全成人の22.5％，推定患者数は2,315万人であった．

　結果：疼痛部位は運動器がほとんどであり，医療機関を受診した慢性疼痛患者の80％以上が整形外科を受診したが，患者の治療に対する満足度は高くなかった．

　まとめ：整形外科医は慢性疼痛の知識を増やし有効な治療法を確立する必要があると考えられた．

　Background：Nationwide surveys (Internet research) were conducted in Japan to determine the prevalence of chronic pain and actual status of treatment for chronic pain (Survey 1), and to assess patients' needs (Survey 2).

　Methods：There were 41,597 respondents to survey1 and 5,998 respondents to Survey 2.　The prevalence of chronic pain among all of the adult Japanese surveyed was 22.5%, and the estimated number of patients nationwide was 23.15 million.

　Outcome：In general, the pain was experienced in motor organs, and more than 80% of the chronic pain patients who consulted medical institutions were treated in orthopedic clinics.　However, they did not have a high degree of satisfaction with treatment.

　Conclusion：Orthopedic surgeons need to make a greater effort to increase their knowledge of chronic pain and to establish effective treatments.