Table 3 Characteristics of chronic pain according to age and sex (N = 791)

 Worst pain

5.6 ± 2.2

5.6 ± 2.2

5.5 ± 2.2

5.2 ± 2.2

6.0 ± 2.2

5.6 ± 2.3^**,a

 Least pain

2.2 ± 1.8

2.2 ± 1.9

2.2 ± 1.7

1.9 ± 1.6

2.5 ± 2.0

2.3 ± 1.8^**,a

 Pain on average

3.7 ± 1.7

3.7 ± 1.8

3.6 ± 1.7

3.3 ± 1.5

4.2 ± 1.9

3.9 ± 1.7^**,a

 Pain right now

2.9 ± 2.0

2.9 ± 2.1

3.0 ± 1.9

2.7 ± 1.8

3.2 ± 2.1

2.9 ± 2.0^**,a

 Head

187 (23.6)

85 (25.1)

102 (22.6)

91 (25.5)

72 (23.8)

24 (18.2)

 Face

26 (3.3)

15 (4.4)

11 (2.4)

8 (2.2)

12 (4.0)

6 (4.5)

 Neck/shoulder

151 (19.1)

49 (14.5)

102 (22.6) ^**

80 (22.4)

59 (19.5)

12 (9.1)^**,b

 Back

114 (14.4)

42 (12.4)

72 (15.9)

42 (11.8)

49 (16.2)

23 (17.4)

 Arms/hands

149 (18.8)

55 (16.2)

94 (20.8)

71 (19.9)

63 (20.9)

15 (11.4)

 Legs/feet

431 (53.5)

165 (48.7)

266 (58.8) ^**

177 (49.6)

182 (60.3)

72 (54.5)^**,b

 Chest

124 (15.7)

62 (18.3)

62 (13.7)

57 (16.0)

45 (14.9)

22 (16.7)

 Abdomen/pelvis

167 (21.1)

82 (24.2)

85 (18.8)

80 (22.4)

62 (20.5)

25 (18.9)