Poster Presentation Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

POSTER DISCUSSION: Chronic pain among people with diabetes living in regional Victoria: preliminary findings from the Crossroads-II project (#265)

Kristen Glenister 1 , Lisa Bourke 1 , Daniel Terry 1 , Sian Wright 1 , Dianna Magliano 2 , David Simmons 3
  1. Department of Rural Health , University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  3. University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia

Crossroads-II is a longitudinal population health study currently underway in the Goulburn Valley of regional Victoria.   The baseline Crossroads study was conducted in the same region from 2001-2003 using similar methodology and found that the prevalence of diabetes was 7.3%. Chronic pain is common among people with diabetes, but is less well recognised and understood than other co-morbid conditions or diabetic complications.     The objective of this sub-study was to assess current prevalence of diabetes, diabetes complications and co-morbid chronic pain, in addition to the level of concern regarding diabetes.  

Households from the regional centre of Shepparton were randomly selected to participate in the study.   Surveys assessing health, disease and access to health services were completed at the household by a trained interviewer using electronic tablets. Participants were asked if they suffer from chronic pain and the EQ5D tool was used to assess current level of pain or discomfort.  Participants with diabetes were asked if they were concerned about their diabetes.

To date 629 participants from 393 households have completed the survey (42% male, age 55±19 years, 81% Caucasian).   The prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 11% (42% male, age 63±17 years, 83% Caucasian).  The most common self-reported co-morbidities/diabetes complications were cataracts (30%), heart disease (19%), poor circulation to the feet (17%) and nerve damage (15%).  Chronic pain was reported more frequently by participants with diabetes, than participants without diabetes (39% vs 23% respectively p=0.004), particularly extreme pain/discomfort (12% vs 4% respectively p=0.008).   Participants with diabetes attributed their pain predominantly to arthritis and other musculo-skeletal conditions (89%), with few attributing their pain to diabetes related nerve damage (7%).  74% of participants with diabetes were concerned about their diabetes.    

Prevalence of chronic pain among people with diabetes appears high and suggests that greater attention to chronic pain in diabetes management may be required.