Socio-professional vulnerability and chronic pain: a retrospective pain clinic study

Background: Chronic pain is a complex condition with major clinical and public health implications, including reduced quality of life and limited work participation. This study aimed to analyse the biopsychosocial characteristics of patients treated at a multidisciplinary pain centre to identify key factors that can inform public health strategies. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using patient records at a multidisciplinary pain centre in Brussels. A random sample of 1000 patients with chronic pain was included. Data collection covered sociodemographic infor- mation and diagnoses. Descriptive analysis and correlation matrix were used to identify key trends. Results: The mean age was 49 (± 13) years, with women comprising 72.8% of the sample. Socioprofessionally, 43.6% were employed, 27.2% disabled and 13.6% unemployed. The median duration of pain before treatment at the multidisciplinary center was 4 years. Chronic musculoskeletal pain was the most common diagnosis (76%). Widespread pain was more frequent in patients with disability, the unemployed, and those in elementary occupations (29.0%, 38.2%, and 38.3%, respectively). Cluster analysis revealed a positive association between widespread pain, depression (r = 0.40, p < 0.001), and female gender (r = 0.29, p < 0.001), and a negative association with musculoskeletal pain (r = -0.34, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Chronic pain disproportionately affects women and vulnerable socio-professional groups of working age, with chronic musculoskeletal pain being the most common diagnosis. Widespread pain is linked to depression, gender and socio-professional vulnerability. Delayed access to specialist care highlights the need for earlier, tailored management strategies to prevent pain chronification. Clinical trial number: not applicable.