Sex differences in the transition to chronic pain

Area of Science:

• Pain research
• Sex differences in medicine
• Translational pain science

Background:

• Chronic pain impacts over 50 million Americans, with women experiencing greater severity and disability.
• The transition from acute to chronic pain is multifactorial, often following injury or surgery.
• Limited clinical research exists on sex differences in chronic pain predictors and biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review clinical and preclinical literature on sex differences in the transition to chronic pain.
• To identify sex-specific mechanisms in peripheral, central nervous system, and endocrine systems.
• To highlight research gaps and recommend future directions.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical studies and preclinical animal models of chronic pain.
• Analysis of studies investigating sex-specific mechanisms across multiple biological systems.
• Synthesis of evidence on peripheral, central nervous system, and endocrine factors.

Main Results:

• Preclinical models reveal emerging male-specific and female-specific mechanisms for chronic pain development.
• Evidence suggests both shared and distinct biological pathways contribute to chronic pain in males and females.
• Sex differences are observed in the periphery, immune system, central nervous system, and endocrine system.

Conclusions:

• Understanding sex-specific mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted chronic pain therapies.
• Further clinical and preclinical research is needed to elucidate sex differences in chronic pain transition.
• Future studies should focus on identifying sex-specific predictors and biomarkers for chronic pain.