Chronic pain in a biracial population of young women

This study investigated dimensions of chronic pain and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in a census tract sampling of African-American and Caucasian young women enrolled (from racially congruent households) at ages 9-10 in the longitudinal multicenter National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Growth and Health Study (NGHS). The present study, which examined participants at the California clinical NGHS center when they were 19-23 years old, investigates five commonly reported chronic pains: back, head, face/jaw, abdomen, and chest. Chronic pain grade (CPG) status based on pain self-reports (frequency, duration, severity, and interference with usual activities) is reported for each of the five pain sites. Results show that chronic pain is common in this population of young women, although based on the CPG severity scores, only a small percentage is dysfunctional. Racial differences were not found for back, head, abdomen or chest pains. However, significant racial differences were found regarding facial pain and symptoms related to TMDs above and beyond socioeconomic status (SES) (lifetime prevalence: adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.14 and 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.40-3.31; 6 month period prevalence: aOR=2.03 and 95% CI=1.16-3.64). Not only were facial pain and jaw symptoms reported more frequently by Caucasians compared to African-Americans controlling for SES, but they were also reported to have an earlier onset.