Recommended Citation
Siddiqui A, Diaz Morales S, Guerra Branger A, Knezevic N. Sex-Based Disparities in the Use of Pain Medication for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain. Presented at Scientific Day; May 21, 2025; Park Ridge, IL.
Abstract
Background/Purpose:
Our recent review showed that the biomolecular mechanisms of pain differ between males and females which influences their experience with pain, potentially explaining variations in terms of behavior and response towards pain and treatment.
Purpose:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in chronic pain treatment between male and female patients in an outpatient clinic setting.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective analysis of 1,995 patients being treated for various types of chronic non-cancer pain (neck pain, lower back pain, osteoarthritis, etc.). The patients were followed for at least a year, with a minimum of four consecutive follow up appointments where they were evaluated. They were initially classified by sex and subsequently subclassified by age, BMI, duration of pain, number of visits, morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) at first and last visits, consumption of gabapentinoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and other anxiolytics and antidepressants. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 27 with independent t-tests, frequency tables, and crosstabs with χ2 analysis.
Results:
The study showed that of the 1,995 patients, 61% were female and 39% were male. A higher percentage of females experienced chronic lower back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and combinations thereof. There were no significant differences in age, BMI, or pain duration. In terms of pain medication consumption, statistics indicated that women used more muscle relaxants (37.22%) than men (28.77%) P< 0.001. Women also displayed higher consumption of benzodiazepines (23.34%) and tricyclic antidepressants (6.66%). Results demonstrated that male patients used higher amounts of opioids with mean MMEs of 23.61 and 20.83 in their first and last visits, respectively, in comparison to women whose values were 18.77 and 16.07 (P=0.002).
Conclusion:
The study reveals clinical and statistical differences in chronic pain treatment between both sexes. Our results showed a higher consumption of muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants in women in comparison to men and opioid doses being higher in men compared to women throughout the study. Evidence indicates a higher prevalence of pathologies associated with chronic pain conditions in women compared to men which would be the next step to analyze.
Presentation Notes
Presented at Scientific Day; May 21, 2025; Park Ridge, IL.
Full Text of Presentation
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Document Type
Oral/Podium Presentation
Sex-Based Disparities in the Use of Pain Medication for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
Background/Purpose:
Our recent review showed that the biomolecular mechanisms of pain differ between males and females which influences their experience with pain, potentially explaining variations in terms of behavior and response towards pain and treatment.
Purpose:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in chronic pain treatment between male and female patients in an outpatient clinic setting.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective analysis of 1,995 patients being treated for various types of chronic non-cancer pain (neck pain, lower back pain, osteoarthritis, etc.). The patients were followed for at least a year, with a minimum of four consecutive follow up appointments where they were evaluated. They were initially classified by sex and subsequently subclassified by age, BMI, duration of pain, number of visits, morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) at first and last visits, consumption of gabapentinoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and other anxiolytics and antidepressants. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 27 with independent t-tests, frequency tables, and crosstabs with χ2 analysis.
Results:
The study showed that of the 1,995 patients, 61% were female and 39% were male. A higher percentage of females experienced chronic lower back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and combinations thereof. There were no significant differences in age, BMI, or pain duration. In terms of pain medication consumption, statistics indicated that women used more muscle relaxants (37.22%) than men (28.77%) P< 0.001. Women also displayed higher consumption of benzodiazepines (23.34%) and tricyclic antidepressants (6.66%). Results demonstrated that male patients used higher amounts of opioids with mean MMEs of 23.61 and 20.83 in their first and last visits, respectively, in comparison to women whose values were 18.77 and 16.07 (P=0.002).
Conclusion:
The study reveals clinical and statistical differences in chronic pain treatment between both sexes. Our results showed a higher consumption of muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants in women in comparison to men and opioid doses being higher in men compared to women throughout the study. Evidence indicates a higher prevalence of pathologies associated with chronic pain conditions in women compared to men which would be the next step to analyze.
Affiliations
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center