Biological, psychological, and social factors associated with worsening of chronic pain during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the management of acute peptic ulcer perforation: to be reconsidered(?)

“…The authors expressed a set of 1,453 cases with chronic pain due to the postponement or cancellation of all regular checkups and the restriction of access to prescription opioids during the COVID-19 period, where approximately 25-30% of individuals reported exacerbation of their chronic pain. Similar conclusions were also described by Pagé et al 13 , Chatkoff et al 14 , and Lang-Illievich et al 15 . The deterioration in care for patients without COVID-19 can be found in all medicines.…”

Decrease in pain perception during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case series

“…Several COVID-19-related factors (mainly social and psychological) can worsen chronic pain and contribute to pain chronification. 8,12 On the contrary, in this case series, we describe 3 patients with cancer-related chronic pain who reported significant pain reduction during the acute phase of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This case series further reinforces our seminal observation of chronic pain blunting in the context of acute COVID-19 illness.…”

The COVID‐19 pandemic and its consequences for chronic pain: a narrative review

“…Reports of the impact on pain burden differed internationally. The COVID‐19‐related lockdowns increased the burden of pain in chronic pain patients in Spain [ 55 , 56 , 57 ], the United Kingdom [ 58 ], the United States [ 59 ], Canada [ 60 ], Japan [ 23 , 61 ], Austria, Germany and Switzerland [ 62 ]. One of the largest surveys, of 25,482 Japanese participants conducted in August 2020, observed that 10.4% of patients reported persistent pain during the pandemic, while only 6.3% of participants had pre‐existing chronic pain.…”

“…Loneliness and a perception of increased social isolation during the COVID‐19 pandemic were associated with increased prevalence and incidence of all types of pain and pain intensity [ 23 ]. In an early European survey involving 719 patients from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, chronic pain worsened in 53% of patients in whom both biological and psychosocial factors were noted to be associated [ 62 ]. Similarly, a patient survey across 14 countries (n = 14,975) showed increases in pain symptoms during the pandemic [ 63 ], which were more dramatic in certain diseases states, such as systemic lupus erythematosus [ 64 ] and fibromyalgia [ 65 , 66 ].…”