The Problem with Pain
Chronic pain adversely affects the mental, physical and emotional well being of millions of people in Singapore and throughout Asia. In Singapore alone, it is estimated that some 450,000 individuals suffer from chronic pain that lasts for more than 3 to 6 months. An alarming fact in the face of these statistics is that chronic pain is “grossly under treated” in most patients and has low priority in Singapore and Asia’s established health care system.
The numbers of individuals that suffer from chronic pain in Singapore and other Asian countries are steadily increasing. When viewing global statistics, it is estimated that 30% of the world’s population deals with chronic pain and affects 1 in 5 adults. At a recent panel discussion organized by Pfizer Thailand, Assoc Prof Padit Prateepavanich stated, “Chronic pain is likely to become a major health issue in Asia Pacific including Thailand.”
There are various factors that may account for this phenomena, which include an ageing population, sports injuries, pain associated with illness and injury and the cost, risks and side affects of standard medical treatment.
- The 3 February 2006 Committee on Ageing Issues: Report on the Ageing Population to the Prime Minister of Singapore stated, “Between now and 2030, Singapore will witness an unprecedented profound age shift. The number of residents age 65 years or older will multiply threefold from current 300,000 to 900,000 in 2030. By then, one in every five residents will be a senior.” Many older individuals experience chronic pain associated with the general wear and tear on bones, joints and muscles. They are also more apt to suffer from osteoarthritis, back pain, and joint pain and stiffness.
- Not only is there a profound demographic shift as the “baby boomers” age, but people are continuing to live longer. Life expectancy in Singapore is noted to be one of the highest in the world and is comparable to that of the U.S., the U.K., and Japan. Singaporean women live on average 79.9 years and men live to approximately 76.5 years.
- As people live longer, the age of retirement steadily increases. Currently, the retirement age is 62 and is expected to be 65 in the near future. The fact that people are living longer does not necessarily indicate that they would be able to work longer. Individuals employed in strenuous lines of work are the hardest hit when the age of retirement continually creeps upward.
- Sports injuries occur to approximately 1 in 260 people and can contribute to both acute and chronic pain issues brought about by fractures and torn ligaments and muscles.
- Pain specialists estimate that approximately 50-80% of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives.
- Unrelenting pain is often associated with illness and injury and is experienced by numerous individuals in various age groups. A few of these illnesses and injuries include Fibromyalgia, slipped disks, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Neuralgia.
- Cost as well as fear of potential risks and side affects of standard treatments - surgeries and pharmaceutical pain medications - keep some Singaporeans from seeking treatment for their pain. When traditional medical approaches are used, they may only provide temporary relief from pain.
Even as the numbers of chronic pain sufferers’ increase, there is little emphasis placed on the treatment of pain in Singapore’s health care system. The problem is compounded further from lack of knowledge among consumers and health care providers regarding appropriate pain management.
This currently leaves the market wide open for innovative and revolutionary pain management systems to address the needs of acute and chronic pain sufferers where standard treatments have fallen short of the mark. It is not only critical that the proposed treatment is shown to be effective in relieving chronic pain, but is also affordable so that all sectors of society could benefit.
References:
http://www.pfizer.co.th/2006/en/newsview.aspx?newsid=144
http://www.mcys.gov.sg/successful_ageing/report/CAI_report.pdf
http://iussp2005.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=51141