OBJECTIVE: To investigate cross-sectional associations between self-reported recent pain and alcohol use/abstinence, and previous-day pain and previous-week alcohol consumption in adults aged 50 + in six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS: The WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 (2007-2010) in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa is the data source. Prevalence of alcohol use/abstinence is reported by previous-day and previous-month pain. Multinomial logistic regressions (crude and adjusted for sex and country) tested associations between recent pain and alcohol use in the pooled multicountry sample. RESULTS: Across the six SAGE countries, about one-third of respondents reported alcohol use, being highest in Russia (74%) and lowest in India (16%). Holding the effects of sex and country constant, compared with abstainers, people with previous-day pain were more likely to be previous-day or other users. With regard to the quantity and frequency of alcohol use, people with previous-day pain were more likely to be non-heavy drinkers. CONCLUSION: Overall, we found that, in this population of older adults in six LMICs, recent pain was associated with moderate use of alcohol, although there were differences between countries. The findings provide a platform for country-specific research to better understand bi-directional associations between pain and alcohol in older adults.

OBJECTIF: Etudier les associations transversales entre la douleur récente auto-déclarée et la consommation/abstinence d'alcool, et la douleur au cours du jour précédent et la consommation d'alcool au cours de la semaine précédente chez les adultes âgés de 50 ans et plus dans six pays à revenus faibles et moyens (PRFM). MÉTHODES: L’étude de l’OMS sur le vieillissement mondiale et la santé des adultes (étude SAGE) Vague 1 (2007-2010) en Chine, au Ghana, en Inde, au Mexique, en Russie et en Afrique du Sud constituait la source des données. La prévalence de la consommation/abstinence d'alcool a été rapportée selon la douleur au cours du jour précédent et du mois précédent. Les régressions logistiques multinomiales (brutes et ajustées pour le sexe et le pays) ont testé les associations entre la douleur récente et la consommation d'alcool dans l’échantillon poolé des pays. RÉSULTATS: Dans les six pays SAGE, environ un tiers des répondants ont rapporté la consommation d'alcool, étant la plus élevée en Russie (75%) et la plus faible en Inde (16%). En maintenant constants les effets du sexe et du pays, les personnes souffrant de douleur du jour précédent étaient plus susceptibles d’être des consommateurs du jour précédent ou à d'autres moments, comparées aux abstinents. En ce qui concerne la quantité et la fréquence de la consommation d'alcool, les gens souffrant de douleur du jour précédent étaient plus susceptibles d’être des non gros buveurs. CONCLUSION: Dans l'ensemble nous avons constaté que, dans cette population de personnes âgées dans six PRFM, la douleur récente était associée à une consommation modérée d'alcool, bien qu'il y ait des différences entre les pays. Les résultats fournissent une plate-forme pour la recherche spécifique au pays pour mieux comprendre les associations bidirectionnelles entre la douleur et l'alcool chez les personnes âgées.

OBJETIVO: Investigar las asociaciones croseccionales entre dolor reciente autoreportado y uso de alcohol / abstinencia, y dolor el día anterior y consume de alcohol la semana anterior entre adultos con una edad de +50 años en seis países con ingresos bajos y medios (PIBMs). MÉTODOS: Se utilizó como fuente de datos el estudio de la OMS sobre envejecimiento y salud de los adultos en el mundo (SAGE), primera etapa (2007-2010) realizado en China, Ghana, India, Méjico, Rusia y Sudáfrica. La prevalencia del uso de alcohol / abstinencia se reportaba según el nivel de dolor del día anterior o del mes anterior. Mediante regresiones logísticas multinomiales (crudas y ajustadas según sexo y país) se evaluaron las asociaciones entre el dolor reciente y el uso de alcohol en una muestra agrupada multinacional. RESULTADOS: En seis países SAGE, aproximadamente un tercio de quienes respondieron reportaron el uso del alcohol, siendo el más alto en Rusia (75%) y el más bajo en India (16%). Manteniendo constantes los efectos del sexo y del país, y comparando con quienes se abstenían, las personas con dolor el día previo tenían una mayor probabilidad de haber tomado alcohol el día anterior u otros usuarios. Con respecto a la cantidad y la frecuencia en el uso del alcohol, las personas con dolor el día anterior tenían una mayor probabilidad de no ser bebedores empedernidos. CONCLUSIÓN: En general encontramos que, en esta población de adultos mayores en seis PIBMs, el dolor reciente estaba asociado con un uso moderado del alcohol, aunque había diferencias entre países. Los hallazgos proveen una plataforma para investigaciones específicas por países, con el fin de entender mejor las asociaciones bidireccionales entre dolor y alcohol en adultos mayores.

Background: Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), a life-threatening form of the disease, is accompanied by several pain, mental and physical symptoms.

Aims: In this study, we evaluated the cyclicity of AIP and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms in 32 women with DNA-diagnosed AIP during their menstrual cycles, in northern Sweden.

Methods: The cyclicity of AIP symptoms and differences in them between the follicularand luteal phases, and the cyclicity of each symptom in each individual woman indifferent phases of her menstrual cycle were analysed with a prospective daily ratingquestionnaire. PMS symptoms were also evaluated in the patients on a daily rating scale.

Results: Of the 32 women, 30 showed significant cyclicity in at least one AIP or PMS symptom (P < 0.05–0.001). Back pain (10/32) was the most frequent AIP pain symptomand sweet craving (10/15) was the most frequent PMS symptom. Pelvic pain (F = 4.823,P = 0.036), irritability (F = 7.399, P = 0.011), cheerfulness (F = 5.563, P = 0.025), sexualdesire (F = 8.298, P = 0.007), friendliness (F = 6.157, P = 0.019), breast tenderness (F =21.888, P = 0.000) and abdominal swelling (F = 16.982, P = 0.000) showed significantcyclicity. Pelvic pain and abdominal swelling (rs= 0.337, P < 0.001) showed the strongest correlation. The age of women with latent AIP was strongly correlated with abdominal swelling during the luteal phase (rs= 0.493, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the symptoms of AIP patients change during their menstrual cycles.

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP), defined as a noncyclical pain lasting for more than 6 months can lead to lower physical performance and quality of life in women. CPP is a worldwide problem affecting women of all ages. However, health care professionals and researchers, due to its complex nature and the lack of knowledge surrounding the condition, frequently neglect CPP. Subsequently, basic data and knowledge regarding CPP remain incomplete. Objective: To update the review of the worldwide estimation of the CPP prevalence considering the World Health Organization systematic review by Latthe et al in 2006 as point of departure. Study Design: A systematic review of CPP prevalence studies. Method: Electronic search was performed to find related articles through PubMed between 2005 and 2012 based on the PRISMA statement (2009). Results: From 140 studies, only 7 studies were about CPP prevalence. Their study design consisted of 3 cross sectional studies, one population based mailing questionnaire study, one survey study (computer assisted telephone interview), one data analysis by questionnaire, and one prospective community based study. Limitations: Paucity of population based studies in addition to probability of existence of studies at the local level with limited access to worldwide databases, lack of consensus about definition of CPP among researchers and therapists, and non-inclusion of CPP related key words in databases such as PubMed. Conclusion: Based on these articles, prevalence in general ranged between 5.7% and 26.6%. There were many countries and regions without basic data in the field of CPP. This review shows the paucity of studies, especially multidisciplinary researches with multifactorial views on CPP. Multidisciplinary studies would provide more reliable data for estimating the prevalence of CPP and its psycho-socioeconomic burden, as well as finding its etiologies and characteristics. This would be the first step towards better treatment and care for women with CPP.