Chronic pain was associated with higher odds of diagnosed high blood pressure
Adults with chronic pain had higher pooled odds of hypertension, meaning diagnosed high blood pressure, than study controls. Results varied substantially, and the association did not appear for every pain condition.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found an association between chronic pain and a high blood pressure diagnosis, but the results differed greatly between studies. Associations appeared for chronic widespread pain and chronic headache, while musculoskeletal and lower back pain showed no detected association. These findings do not establish that pain causes hypertension or predict an individual's future diagnosis.
Results varied substantially between studies. The conclusion refers to chest pain, whereas the stated question and pooled results concern chronic pain; the abstract does not resolve that discrepancy.
What researchers found
Chronic pain and hypertension
Pooled odds ratio 1.66 (95% CI 1.28-2.15), comparing people with chronic pain with controls. Observation periods were not reported.
Odds describe an association
The pooled result describes the odds of having a hypertension diagnosis. It does not say how many additional people had hypertension, establish when the diagnosis occurred, or show that chronic pain caused it.
Pain conditions differed
The review reported associations for chronic widespread pain and chronic headache, but not for musculoskeletal or lower back pain. These differences matter because the overall pain result should not be read as applying equally to every pain condition.
The original publication
Are adults with chronic pain more likely to develop hypertension than adults without chronic pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Taylor HE, Salf JC, Roper-Marchand CR et al.
Br J Anaesth · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40640044
- Record checked
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