Cohort Studyhigh evidence
Global and regional reference curves for pain across the lifespan in 6.1 million individuals in 118 countries.
Nature medicine·October 5, 2026·PMID 42834228
Why it mattersPain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, yet no standardized reference framework existed to compare pain burden across populations. These global reference curves enable clinicians and researchers to benchmark local pain data against worldwide norms, identify disparities, and target prevention efforts more equitably.
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