Who Can Get CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)?
Who is more likely to develop CRPS?
The very simple answer to this question is that anyone can get CRPS.
Studies suggest that both men and women, adults and children can all develop CRPS. However from the available research it has been found that CRPS is more common in women than in men at a ratio of 3-4:1 (de Mos, M. et al. 2007) and the average age is between 40 – 60 years old.
However in the de Mos, M 2007 study it was stated that the highest incidence rates in a certain age group of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in females was actually between 61-70 years of age. That is not to say that men can be affected nor that it is not in under 40 years because it is not true.
In a UK study undertaken (2015) Shenker, N. et al. they found that out of the 240 patient study that:
“… 72.5% were female (2.6:1), with a mean age at symptoms onset of 43 years, and were left-handed more than expected (21.8% versus 10% in the general population). “It is considered that it is rarely in the elderly. The professionals are now seeing more and more patients between the ages of 20-35 years old.
TO THE TOP
Among physicians in Denmark it is not common knowledge that CRPS also affects children. It is not described in paediatric textbooks and until 1978 there were only eight published case reports. CRPS is seen in older children and teenagers and the pain is often located in a leg.Also according to Henneberg S.W. et al:
CRPS is more common among girls than boys (approx. 4:1).
TO THE TOP
“Potential risk factors identified (strong weighting against bias, good quality, and relevance) across the 16 papers are as follows: being female (particularly postmenopausal); obtaining a fracture of the distal radius; suffering an ankle dislocation or intra-articular fracture; and reports of higher than usual levels of pain in the early phases after trauma.”In a study done in the Netherlands by de Mos, M. et al (2007) they studied a register of 600,000 patients and they found that:
The estimated overall incidence rate of CRPS was 26.2 per 100,000 person years (95% CI: 23.0-29.7).So this would mean that 1 person in every 3,800 are diagnosed with CRPS formerly called RSD. This may not seem a lot however this figure will keep on rising through the future years as the incidence of chronic pain in general will keep rising. In the UK it is estimated at around 15,000 people have this condition but around 8 MILLION people in the UK suffer from chronic pain. This is a huge number and will only keep on rising every year alongside the cost to the Governments around the world in treatment, care, lack of employment, social needs, medication, benefits and disability payments.
TO THE TOP
Cited Research
- de Mos, M. et al. (2007) ‘The incidence of complex regional pain syndrome: a population based study,’ May 2007. Journal of Pain & NCBI NIH. Vol 129(1-2) pp 12-20. Epub 7 November 2006. Available from: <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17084977> PMID: 17084977
- Henneberg, S.W., et al. (2003) ‘Reflex Dystrophy affects children too,’ 9 June 2003. Ugeskr Laeger. Vol 165(24) pp 2482-5. Available from: <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12872468>
- Pons, T. et al. (2015) ‘Potential Risk Factors for the Onset of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1: A Systematic Literature Review,’ Anesthesiology Research and Practice. 2015. Vol 2015. FULL TEXT Available from: <http://www.hindawi.com/journals/arp/2015/956539/>
- Shenker, N. et al (2015) ‘Establishing the characteristics for patients with chronic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: the value of the CRPS-UK Registry,’ British Journal of Pain. May 2015. Vol 9 No.2 pp 122-128. Available from: <http://bjp.sagepub.com/content/9/2/122.full > doi: 10.1177/2049463714541423
REFERRED TO WEBSITES and ARTICLES
- Lorimer Mosely, Body In Mind ‘What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – In Plain English,’ 9 December 2009. Available from: <http://www.bodyinmind.org/what-is-complex-regional-pain-syndrome-in-plain-english/>
