Vets endure higher severity than nonvets.

• Position: Pain Management - Brief article

U.S. veterans experience higher prevalence of pain and more severe pain than nonveterans, with young and middle-aged veterans suffering the most, according to an analysis of the National Health Interview Survey by the lead epidemiologist at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Bethesda, Md.. This survey provides the first national estimate of severe pain in veterans and nonveterans.

"Our analysis shows that veterans are about 40% more likely to experience severe pain than nonveterans," says Richard L. Nahin, lead author of the analysis. "As well, younger veterans are substantially more likely to report suffering from severe pain than nonveterans These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to helping veterans manage the impact of severe pain and related disability on daily activities."

Among the findings:

* Veterans are more likely than nonveterans to have any back pain (32.8%), back pan with or without sciatica (12.2%, 20.5%), or joint pain (43.6%), but less likely to...