Several factors were found to be associated with disability at follow-up for at least two different pain symptoms .
However , owing to insufficient studies , no generic risk factors for sick leave were identified .
Conclusions Multiple site pain , high pain severity , older age , baseline disability and longer pain duration were identified as potential prognostic factors for disability across pain sites .
There was limited evidence that anxiety and depression were associated with disability in patients with subacute pain , indicating that these factors may not play as large a role as expected in developing disability due to a pain condition .
Objective This systematic review aims to identify generic prognostic factors for disability and sick leave in subacute pain patients .
The Natural History of Headache: Predictors of Onset and Recovery
The objective of this study was to determine predictors of onset of new headache episodes and recovery from headache over one year . A population -based cohort study was conducted , comprising a baseline postal survey to a r and om sample of adults aged ≥18 years , with follow-up survey after 1 year . Risk factor data at baseline were compared with headache status at follow-up in two groups : ( i ) those free of recent headache at baseline and ( ii ) those with a recent headache at baseline . In respondents free of recent headache at baseline , previous headache [ risk ratio ( RR ) 4.15 ] , the presence of other pain at baseline ( RR 1.43 ) , severe sleep problems ( RR 1.67 ) and drinking caffeine ( RR 1.99 ) increased the risk of a new headache episode during the follow-up year . In respondents with recent headache at baseline , less severe headaches at baseline predicted recovery during the follow-up year , as did the absence of anxiety [ recovery ratio ( ReR ) 2.84 ] and of sleep problems ( ReR 2.77 ) . Risks for increased headache-related disability reflected those for onset of a new episode and these risks increased in strength for large increases in disability .  Sleep problems and caffeine consumption increase the risk of developing headache and thus provide targets for prevention . Low levels of anxiety , sleep problems and the absence of other pain improve the likelihood of recovering and remaining free from headache
Several factors were found to be associated with disability at follow-up for at least two different pain symptoms .
However , owing to insufficient studies , no generic risk factors for sick leave were identified .
Conclusions Multiple site pain , high pain severity , older age , baseline disability and longer pain duration were identified as potential prognostic factors for disability across pain sites .
There was limited evidence that anxiety and depression were associated with disability in patients with subacute pain , indicating that these factors may not play as large a role as expected in developing disability due to a pain condition .
Objective This systematic review aims to identify generic prognostic factors for disability and sick leave in subacute pain patients .