Fracture increases risk of widespread pain

Spinal fractures in men and women, and hip fractures in women, more than double the risk of chronic widespread bodily pain (CWBP), according to research from the University of Southampton. The study is the first to link CWBP directly with skeletal fractures.

Researchers analysed data from 502,656 people aged 40 to 69 years (mean 56.5 years). They defined CWBP as people who answered yes both of to two questions: ‘do you have pain all over the body?’ and ‘have you experienced pain all over the body for more than three months?’

Of these, 1.4% reported CWBP and 4.6% had a history of at least one limb, spinal or hip fracture. The authors adjusted for potential confounders, including age and sex as well as demographic, lifestyle (eg smoking, alcohol, fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity), socioeconomic and psychological factors.