The epidemiology of chronic pain in Canadian men and women between 1994 and 2007: longitudinal results of the National Population Health Survey.

Background: The epidemiology of chronic pain is poorly understood due to a paucity of longitudinal studies limiting the ability to develop prevention strategies for a condition resistant to many current therapies.

Objectives: To identify the incidence of and sociodemographic risk factors for chronic pain in Canadian women and men over a 12-year period.

Methods: Using data from the National Population Health Survey, individuals who developed chronic pain, defined as the presence of "usual pain" were identified.