High Impact Chronic Pain (HICP) is a new classification that differentiates individuals with debilitating chronic pain from those with less impactful chronic pain, a new study found. Researchers used the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS; n=15,670) to 1) assess the likelihood of disability in the overall chronic pain population, 2) to estimate the prevalence of HICP, and 3) to characterize the disability, health status, and health care use profile of this population in the US. They found:

• Chronic pain is associated with an increased risk of disability (odds ratio [OR] 4.43).
• HICP incorporates both disability and pain duration.
• HICP affected 10.6 million (4.8%) US adults in 2011.
• The HICP population reported more severe pain, mental health, and cognitive impairments compared to those with chronic pain without disability.
• The HICP population also reported more difficulty with self-care and higher health care use.