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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Health Psychology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1447168

A lesson for post-COVID healthcare: Assessment of physical and psychosocial risk factors on perceived pain intensity among urban individuals

Provisionally accepted
Hung Chak Ho Hung Chak Ho 1*Wentao BAI Wentao BAI 2Stanley Sau Ching Wong Stanley Sau Ching Wong 2Chi Wai Cheung Chi Wai Cheung 2*
  • 1 City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
  • 2 The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Perceived pain intensity is an important determinant of health-related quality of life. A lack of studies has investigated the co-influences of physical and psychosocial risk factors on perceived pain intensity and the shifts in effects after pandemic. As a post-COVID symptom, it is important to re-assess the risk factors for post-COVID heath care.Methods: Four dimensions of physical/psychosocial risk factors were assessed: medical history, personal wellbeing and psychological distress, lifestyle, and socio-demographic characteristics. We first identified subgroups with significant increase in perceived pain intensity after pandemic by a comparison with the baseline group (all participants). Based on the variables associated with a severe increase in pain score (NRS), multivariate regression models were applied to identify risk factors on perceived pain intensity.Results: Among 3237 urban individuals in Hong Kong, 20.95% and 30.58% were with severe pain (NRS >= 4) before and after pandemic. Participants with respiratory disease had the most significant increase in perceived pain intensity (increase in NRS: 1.29 [0.65, 1.93]), seconded by those with known psychiatric diseases and living with special needs. After pandemic, insomnia, known psychiatric diseases, female, and low household income remained as significant risk factors, and insomnia remained as the most significant (estimate:1.018 [CI: 0.814, 1.221]). The effect sizes of these factors were increased after pandemic.Respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and low education (secondary school or below) were additional risk factors.It is necessary to develop up-to-date interventions targeting vulnerable populations, particularly individuals with known psychiatric diseases and insomnia, for pain reduction.

    Keywords: Perceived pain intensity, Psychosocial factors, Personal wellbeing, mental distress, insomnia, risk factor

    Received: 15 Jun 2024; Accepted: 30 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ho, BAI, Wong and Cheung. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Hung Chak Ho, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
    Chi Wai Cheung, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, 999077, Hong Kong, SAR China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.