Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Spontaneous and Evoked Measures of Pain in Murine Models of Monoarticular Knee Pain
Published on: February 22, 2019
Outcome and predictive factors in children with chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain
B Flatø1, A Aasland, I H Vandvik
1Center for Rheumatic Diseases, OSR, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain in children often persists, particularly in those with widespread pain and lower parental education. These factors predict long-term pain and disability, impacting quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Musculoskeletal Pain
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
Background:
- Chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain in children is a significant clinical challenge.
- Understanding the long-term outcomes and predictors is crucial for effective management.
- Idiopathic pain lacks a clear physical origin, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the 9-year outcome of chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain in children.
- To identify predictors of persistent pain in this pediatric population.
- To compare outcomes with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) as a reference group.
Main Methods:
- Prospective 9-year follow-up of 37 children with chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain.
- Inclusion criteria: pain duration ≥3 months, no identifiable physical cause.
- Comparison group: 72 patients with active juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA).
Main Results:
- 59% of children (22/37) still experienced chronic pain at 9-year follow-up.
- Predictors of persistent pain included generalized pain (OR=84) and lower maternal education.
- Persistent pain was associated with significant disability and psychosocial challenges, similar to active JCA.
Conclusions:
- Chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain in children frequently has an unfavorable outcome.
- Generalized pain and low parental education are key predictors of persistent pain.
- Early identification of these risk factors is essential for improving long-term prognosis.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to describe the outcome and determine predictors of persisting chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain in children.
Methods:
A prospective 9-year follow-up of 37 children with musculoskeletal pain of at least 3 months duration for which no physical origin could be found, was carried out. The study comprised those patients with idiopathic pain in a cohort of 117 first admissions to a pediatric rheumatology clinic; 72 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) were used as a comparison group.
Results:
Twenty-two patients (59%) still had chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain at the 9-year follow-up, while 15 patients no longer had pain after a median of 2.1 years (range 0.3-8.9). Compared with the patients with resolved pain, those with chronic pain had a longer disease duration before admission (median 1.4 versus 0.5 years, P < 0.01), more frequent generalised pain (86 versus 47%, P < 0.05), more intense pain (median 4.3 versus 0.5 cm VAS, P < 0.05), a lower parental education level (mean 10 versus 14 years, P < 0.01) and more chronic family difficulties (mean score 4.3 versus 2.9, P < 0.01) on first admission. Predictors of persistent pain were generalised pain on first admission (OR = 84) and a low mother's education level (OR = 0.31 per year of increased education). At follow-up, 16 patients (73%) with persistent chronic pain reported some disability according to the childhood or the adult Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ/HAQ). The patients with chronic pain had as high a pain intensity (median 2.7 versus 2.0 cm VAS, NS), as much disability (median CHAQ/HAQ 0.3 versus 0.3) and as much impact on overall well-being (median 2.9 versus 3.2 cm VAS, NS) as patients with active JCA, but they had more fatigue (median 5.1 versus 1.3 cm VAS, P < 0.05), lower levels of psychosocial functioning (median score 74 versus 80, P < 0.05) and more chronic family difficulties (median score 3.3 versus 2.3, P < 0.001) than the JCA patients.
Conclusion:
Chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain in children had an unfavourable outcome in the present study, especially in children with generalised pain and a low parental education level.
More Related Videos
07:20Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Action Observation Training in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
06:28Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
