Research finds link between physical pain, income and geographical location

New research has emerged regarding the relationship between pain levels and their underlying causes worldwide. According to a report in The Hindu, the study found that physical pain is often highest during the working years rather than in old age. This research links pain levels to factors such as income, geographical location, obesity, and smoking.

Matthew Fillingim, a researcher from McGill University in Canada, along with 98 researchers from 63 institutions worldwide, conducted this detailed study. They collected data from 61 lakh individuals aged 5 to 100 years across 118 countries between 1995 and 2005 and studied their personal experiences of pain. The findings of this research were recently published in 'Nature Medicine'.

Scientists noted that the 'Global Burden of Disease' study has not included pain as a significant factor, despite it being a major cause of disability worldwide. According to Matthew Fillingim, since there are no medical biomarkers available for pain, the best solution is to ask the individual about their personal experience.

Global Burden of Disease is the world's largest and most comprehensive source of information for scientists and doctors to assess diseases and health on a global scale. It provides data on various health factors across the world.