Explore our recent stories to see what drives us
What chronic pain means to patients and society
|
people
1 in 5
or 1.4 billion people worldwide are affected by chronic pain5 |
chronic pain
21
% of chronic pain patients suffer for more than 20 years6 |
treatment
78
% of chronic pain patients state that their treatment was not as good as they expected7 |
It is estimated that about one in five people worldwide suffers from chronic pain1 , which equates to around 1.4 billion people. Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical help2 , which places an enormous economic burden on healthcare systems. For many conditions there is no standard of care, and in cases where they do exist, they have limited efficacy.3 Chronic pain is one of the major reasons why people leave the labour market prematurely, and is also a significant contributor to disability retirement.4
Given the prevalence and debilitating effects of pain, Grünenthal considers it to be a disease in its own right rather than just a symptom. As a global leader in pain management for nearly 50 years, we’re fully aware that patients are still hugely underserved in this area. We’re driven to seek new solutions to relieve pain. We are also fully committed to transforming this field. We’re redefining and shaping the future of pain management through our own research, as well as by drawing on external innovation, collaborations and networks.
“Although few people die of pain, many still die in pain, while even more live in pain. We will leave no stone unturned to help these patients.”
Grünenthal’s unique commitment to pain
Grünenthal is a global leader in pain management. Our purpose is to change lives for the better – and innovation is our passion. We’re driven to seek effective, life-changing medicines and solutions for patients with severe diseases and high unmet medical needs. We are focussing all of our activities and efforts on moving towards our vision of a world free of pain.
Why pain matters
|
sick days
500
million sick days per day in Europe are due to musculoskeletal pain alone8 |
work incapacity
60
% of permanent work incapacity in Europe is due to musculoskeletal pain alone9 |
losses
34
billion euros loss for the European economy due to chronic pain10 |
[1]Goldberg D.S. and McGee S.J. Pain as a Global Public Health Priority. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:770.
[2] Gureje, O. Simon G.E. Von Korff M. A cross-national study of the course of persistent pain in primary care. Pain. 2001 92(1-2):195-200.
[3] Pain Alliance Europe. Survey on Chronic Pain 2017, Diagnosis, Treatment and Impact of Pain [Internet]. Brussels: Pain Alliance Europe; 2017 p. 1-13. Available from: https://www.pae-eu.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PAE-Survey-on-Chronic-Pain-June-2017.pdf
[4]Saastamoinen P. et al. Pain and disability retirement: a prospective cohort study. Pain. 2012;153(3):526-531.
[5] Goldberg D.S. and McGee S.J. Pain as a Global Public Health Priority. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:770.
[6] Breivik H, et al. Survey of chronic pain in Europe: Prevalence, impact on daily life, and treatment. European Journal of Pain. 2006;10(4) :287-333.
[7] Pain Alliance Europe. Survey on Chronic Pain 2017, Diagnosis, Treatment and Impact of Pain [Internet]. Brussels: Pain Alliance Europe; 2017 p. 1-13. Available from: https://www.pae-eu.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PAE-Survey-on-Chronic-Pain-June-2017.pdf
[8] Bevan S. et al. Reducing Temporary Work Absence Through Early Intervention: The case of MSDs in the EU [Internet]. London: The Work Foundation; 2013 p. 2-10. Available from: http://www.theworkfoundation.com/DownloadPublication/Report/341_The%20case%20for%20early%20interventions%20on%20MSDs.pdf
[10] Wiffen P. Pain: there is a lot of it. Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2013;20(1):1-1