Chronic Pain Sufferers Estimated at 17 Million: Mundipharma Survey

Mundipharma K.K. published on September 30 the results of a questionnaire survey on the current status of pain treatment, "Pain in Japan" conducted on about 30,000 people in April through June of this year. The prevalence of chronic pain in the respondents was 13.4%. Based on these results, it was estimated that about 17 million Japanese have chronic pain, including untreated latent cases. About 78% of those with chronic pain replied that their pain is not adequately controlled. When 436 patients currently receiving pain medication from a physician were asked to what extent they were satisfied with their physician, 88% of all patients replied that they were satisfied with the treatment provided by their physician. Mundipharma commented that most respondents are satisfied with their physician even though their pain is not sufficiently controlled. When asked if any health professional had ever scored them on a pain scale, only 23% answered "yes" and the great majority, 77%, answered "no." When asked if they thought their pain would last forever, 50% replied affirmatively.

This survey was conducted via the Internet on about 30,000 ordinary Japanese. An in-depth study was conducted on 1,877 who were found to have chronic pain in the first phase of the study.

Source: PHARMAJAPAN　No.1914 (October 18, 2004)