Chronic Pain in Italy: Turning Numbers Into Actionable Solutions

Chronic pain (CP) is a condition that looms over the global social and health scenarios. After many years without having national data, an extensive overview of this disorder in Italy has been published in the first Rapporto Censis Grünenthal (Censis Grünenthal Pain Report). It confirms that 19.8% of the Italian adult population suffers from moderate or severe CP, and the vast majority of patients (86.2%) are not aware of the existence of pain management (PM) centers. Starting with the Rapporto Censis Grünenthal data analysis by the representatives of three Italian pain scientific societies, several unmet needs were highlighted for which affordable, innovative, and technological strategies were proposed. These solutions focused on interventions in three strategic areas: (1) information, education, and awareness about CP among patients and physicians; (2) organization of pain center networks to adequately cover the national territory, promoting a multimodal-interdisciplinary approach; and (3) use of currently available novel technologies to foster access to treatment. For this purpose, the authors suggested feasible solutions, such as promoting public educational campaigns to raise awareness of the existence of pain centers and the right to receive a proper PM, as indicated in Italy by the pioneering law 38/2010. Regarding organizational gaps, the authors highlighted the possibility of drawing on international models to improve pain centers with completely dedicated staff and community-based pain services while supporting the development of specialized procedural PM standards. Concerning technologies, investments in telehealth and digital tools would improve access to therapies throughout the territory, enabling efficient clinical assessment and helping deliver the most suitable treatments. Overall, greater awareness of the impact of CP and a better allocation of resources are needed to improve patient quality of life, thereby reducing costs for the healthcare system.