Approved Research

Chronic High Impact Pain and UK Biobank: presentation, transitions, and targets for intervention (CHIPP)

Lay summary

BACKGROUND

Nearly half of UK adults have pain in their muscles or joints lasting longer than three months (chronic pain). While most people manage well, about 25% of people have pain that has far-reaching impacts on their lives, leading to disability, distress, social isolation, and high healthcare needs. It is not clear why some people experience such 'high impact chronic pain' whereas others don't.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

1. Understand the different ways in which pain can impact on people's lives, and agree better definitions of high impact chronic pain.
2. Investigate the reasons why chronic pain affects some people more than others, and why this can change over time. The study will look at:
3. psychological factors, such as mood, attention, memory, ability to problem-solve
4. trauma or impactful events that may occur at different times in people's lives (such as a fracture, bereavement, or new illness)
5.           Identify selfcare or treatment options that can reduce the influence of such factors in people with chronic pain.

RESEARCH PLAN

We will use data from UK Biobank to investigate chronic high impact pain. UK Biobank is a large-scale database, containing detailed genetic and health information from half a million UK participants. The data can be used by approved researchers and scientists from across the world, who carry out research in a wide range of health problems and diseases.

UK Biobank participants were aged 40-69 years when data collection started in 2006-2010. In 2019, 173,000 participants completed a questionnaire on the nature and impact of chronic pain and a second pain questionnaire will be sent out to in 2023. We will analyse data on pain, mental health, sleep, psychological factors, general health, healthcare use, and social factors to answer the research questions.

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN CHIPP

The aims of the research have been agreed together with public contributors, who shared their life stories, and suggested factors that may explain the impact of chronic pain. Involvement can be flexible depending on people's interests, but may include

-             helping to generate definitions for chronic pain with high impact

-             prioritising factors to be included in the analysis

-             reviewing self care and treatment options that may be suitable for people with chronic pain

-             helping to interpret findings from the analysis

-             formulating key messages and dissemination of findings