OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the prevalence of regional and chronic @entity158 (CWP) varies with rurality and to determine the characteristics of @entity1 in rural locations in whom @entity158 is found to be in excess. METHODS: @entity1 , aged >= 55 years, from participating general practices in seven different geographical locations in Scotland were sent a postal questionnaire. The 1-month prevalence of 10 regional @entity158 conditions plus CWP was identified using body manikins. Differences in the prevalence of @entity158 with differing rurality were examined using Chi(2) test for trend. Thereafter, among the rural population, the relationships between @entity158 and putative risk factors were examined using Poisson regression. Thus, results are described as risk ratios. RESULTS: There was some evidence to suggest that the prevalence of CWP increased with increasing rurality, although the magnitude of this was slight. No large or significant differences were observed with any regional @entity158 conditions. Factors associated with the reporting of CWP included poor general health, feeling downhearted most of the time and selected measures of social contact. Factors independently associated with CWP included female gender (risk ratio: 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.997-1.55), poor self-rated health (risk ratio: 3.50; 95% CI: 1.92-6.39) and low mood (risk ratio: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.07-2.20). Also, having fewer than 10 @entity1 to turn to in a crisis was associated with a decrease in the risk of CWP - risk ratio: 0.68 (95% CI: 0.50-0.93) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.60-1.02) for those with 5-10 and <5 @entity1 , respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides no evidence that the prevalence of regional @entity4512 is increased in rural settings, although there is some evidence of a modest increase in CWP. Risk factors for CWP are similar to those seen in the urban setting, including markers of general health, mental health and also aspects of social contact. It may be, however, that social networks are more difficult to maintain in rural settings, and clinicians should be aware of the negative effect of perceived social isolation on @entity158 .

The epidemiology of regional and widespread XXXX in rural versus urban settings in those >= 55 years.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Participants', 'people', 'persons'] @entity4512 :: ('MESH:D059352', 'Disease') :: ['musculoskeletal pain'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain', 'widespread pain', 'pain in rural areas']
@entity4512 :: (MESH:D059352,Disease) :: ['musculoskeletal pain']
