Prävalenz von chronischem Schmerz und funktionellen somatischen Syndromen in Deutschland

Chronic pain and functional somatic syndromes are associated with significant limitations in daily life. The national literature is inconsistent with respect to reports on the prevalence.

As part of a project on epidemiology in Europe, this study aims to more accurately determine the prevalence of chronic pain and functional somatic syndromes in the general adult population in Germany.

A systematic literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed and Web of Science, followed by meta-analyses (https://osf.io/w52jm). Internationally published articles in the English language on the prevalence of chronic pain and functional somatic syndromes in the adult population were included. The quality of the studies was assessed using the appraisal checklist of the Joanna Briggs Institute.

The point prevalence estimates for chronic pain show a range from 14.3% to 22.6%. The overall point prevalence for chronic pain including 6 studies and 18,478 observations was 14.99% (95% confidence interval, CI 10.05–21.77%). The integration of prevalence estimates for functional somatic syndromes and somatoform disorders resulted in a pooled point prevalence rate of 7.35% (95% CI 4.54–11.70%) including 10 studies and 37,110 observations. The prevalence rates for both types of complaints were higher in females than in males. The Egger test showed no indication of publication bias. Subgroup analyses indicated a low risk of bias.

The substantial heterogeneity of the prevalence rates underlines the need for a standardized diagnostic approach in research to ensure consistent and comparable data collection and analysis. The results are discussed against the background of the treatment situation in the German healthcare system and the urgency of developing efficient psychotherapeutic care models to meet the demand.