PSY14 - evaluating trends in chronic pain prevalence in the united states veterans health administration population

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The current study examined chronic pain prevalence in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) population. METHODS: The study sample was based on the VHA Medical SAS Datasets from fiscal year 2008 through 2012. All patients diagnosed with chronic pain throughout the study period were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes 338.2 and 338.4. The variation in the prevalence of chronic pain was assessed and categorized according to the pain scale. Pain score was determined using a scale ranging from 0 to 10 as reported by patients using the following categories: 1 to 4: mild, 5 to 6: moderate and ?7: severe pain. To identify prior prevalence cases, we restricted continuous enrollment throughout that fiscal year and at least 2 years prior