The study found that women veterans were less likely to report any type of pain (38.1percent vs. Veterans without pain, the researchers found women veterans were more likely to report moderate to severe pain (68.0percent vs. 62.6percent) and less likely to report having persistent pain (18.0percent vs. 21, 2 percent) than their male colleagues. ‘We were surprised by the low prevalence of pain in women veterans is contrary to studies in civilian populations,’ said Dr. Haskell.In 2008, the Department of Defense listed 1.4 million active duty military, with 200,337 of these women. The number of women in the armed forces should continue to increase. ‘As VA care plans to increase the number of female staff a better understanding of the prevalence of pain, as well as changes in gender-specific experience and treatment of pain is important for policy makers and providers seeking to improve the identification and diversified management of pain disorders, ‘said Dr. Haskell
In the first study to examine the prevalence of pain according to sex in Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF / OIF) veterans, the VA Connecticut Healthcare System researchers and Yale University School of Medicine found women veterans had a lower prevalence of pain than men returning from war. About 60percent of OEF / OIF veterans have been assessed pain during the study period. Full details of the study appear in the October issue of Pain Medicine, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the Faculty of Pain Medicine Australian College of Anaesthetists and the New Zealand International Spine Intervention Society .
The researchers speculate that the prevalence of pain in the bottom of the female veterans may reflect differences in exposure to combat trauma and injuries among male and female soldiers. Although women do not serve in direct combat roles, have supporting roles that they may put in danger that makes it difficult to assess the risk of injury to veteran real woman. Studies also show for women are more reluctant to seek treatment barriers and the relationship goes to find a treatment that could lead to lower levels of pain reported in women veterans.
‘The national VA Women Veterans Health recognizes the needs of veterans suffering of women. This office is working with the National Bureau of VA pain management to build a research program that informs the development of clinical services for women with chronic pain and training needs of providers, ‘said Pain Medicine Co-Guest Editor Robert Kerns, who is also co-author of the paper.
Previous studies in civilian populations indicate that women more frequently report specific pain syndromes, including migraine headaches, orofacial pain and abdominal pain. Women also report more pain and longer lasting than men.