P-080 - (Poster #80) A Global Pain Index Assessment of the Emotional and Psychological Impact of Pain and Its Contribution to Isolation in the Elderly

Pain is a universal experience, affecting 91% of people globally and significantly disrupting daily activities, emotional well-being, and quality of life (QoL). While physical aspects of pain have been extensively studied, the emotional and psychological impacts remain underrecognized and have worsened over the past decade, particularly post-COVID.  These emotional and social dimensions of pain are closely linked to loneliness and social isolation. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines loneliness as the pain we feel when our social connections do not meet our needs and social isolation as the state of having a smaller number of social contacts, which may contribute to loneliness.¹ Together, these factors amplify the emotional burden of pain, contributing to a “new epidemic of loneliness.”

Purpose/Objectives:

The Haleon ‘Global Pain Index (GPI)’ is a longitudinal social study designed to understand the experiences of people in pain, surveying 18,097 participants across 18 countries, including United States (US). Conducted regularly by Haleon and validated by external experts in pain management, the GPI aims to provide comprehensive insights on pain, with a focus on the emotional and psychological impact. The GPI included subjects across the full age range and evaluated them using segmentation by age, including the segment 65 years and older. Haleon Pain Index (HPI) investigates the relationship between pain and its broader life impact, including emotional and social factors.² 

Methods:

The HPI is conducted regularly and validated by external experts in pain management. Design includes a 30-minute online survey conducted with 18,097 participants (18- 84 years) across 18 countries, including the US. Key components of pain were analyzed across three dimensions: physiological, emotional, and life impact. The GPI Global Score is calculated as the average score of the three dimensions, scaled to a value out of 10.

Results:

This study reveals that while physical aspects of pain have remained relatively stable, emotional and psychological impact on QoL has increased by 25% since 2014. Findings indicate that pain is now driving a “new epidemic of loneliness”. There is a significant relationship between pain and loneliness, with 31% of people reporting “serious loneliness” due to pain. The study found that those 65 years and older were more likely to experience pain daily; were less likely to experience severe pain; and arthritis and joint pain were the most common types of pain. Those 65 years and older were also less likely to look for information about pain treatment; were less likely to look for pain support using the internet; and were less likely to feel stigmatized because of their pain.² 

Conclusions/Implications for future research and/or clinical care:

Emotional and psychological effects of pain are creating a sense of loneliness globally as defined by the GPI. The GPI highlights the need for enhanced training and resources for healthcare professionals to address these aspects of pain, to deliver more comprehensive care.  The GPI highlights that the daily presence of pain is greater in those 65 years and older; who are less able to obtain information about pain management; so they need support from healthcare professionals to manage their pain.

1.) Social isolation and loneliness among older people: advocacy brief. Geneva: World Health Organization. (2021) License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
2.) GPI Report. Data on File