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Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
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Epidemiology of Pediatric Chronic Pain: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

Alessio Lo Cascio1,2, Miriam Cascino3, Marcella Dabbene4

  • 1Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Roma, Via Montpellier, Roma, 1 - 00133, Italy. alessio.locascio@hotmail.it.

Current Pain and Headache Reports
|April 1, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric chronic non-cancer pain prevalence varies widely. Standardized research methods are crucial for accurate monitoring and effective public health policies to support children and adolescents.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pain Research
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Chronic non-cancer pain affects children's physical, psychological, and social health.
  • Prevalence data for paediatric chronic pain is inconsistent and debated.
  • Developmental, socioeconomic, and cultural factors influence this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize evidence from systematic reviews on paediatric non-cancer chronic pain epidemiology.
  • To provide an updated understanding of the prevalence and burden of this condition.
  • To assess the methodological quality of existing systematic reviews.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search across major electronic databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library).
  • Critical appraisal of eligible systematic reviews using the AMSTAR-2 tool.
  • Synthesis of evidence from selected systematic reviews.

Main Results:

  • Reported prevalence of specific pain types showed significant variability: headaches (4-83%), abdominal pain (4-53%), musculoskeletal pain (4-40%), and back/low-back pain (14-24%).
  • Lower prevalence in low- and middle-income countries may be linked to healthcare access barriers.
  • Methodological heterogeneity and critical limitations in systematic reviews impact reliability.

Conclusions:

  • Urgent need for standardized research methodologies to accurately monitor paediatric non-cancer chronic pain prevalence.
  • Standardization is essential for informing policies to mitigate the long-term impact of chronic pain.
  • Addressing these issues, especially in resource-limited settings, is vital for improving health outcomes and reducing societal burdens.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chronic non-cancer painEpidemiologyPainPediatricSystematic reviewUmbrella review

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