Abstract:
Objectives: 1. to investigate the prevalence of chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and its comorbidities in a group of Thai patients; 2. to evaluate the relationship between pain parameters (pain duration, pain intensity, and pain frequency) with the number of comorbidities and widespread pain index (WPI); 3. to assess the relationship between the presence of chronic pain with familial history in TMD pain patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken of 351 outpatients. Patients were given an interviewer-administered questionnaire which contained four parts (demographic data, pain parameters, WPI and comorbidities diagnosis). Diagnosis was made in accordance with Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder. Spearman rank correlation coefficient linear regression, and Chi-square test were used, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Results: 25% reported chronic pain. 82% of chronic pain patients had at least one comorbidity. The number of comorbidities was associated with pain duration (p = 0.02); WPI was related to pain duration and pain intensity (p < 0.001). The presence of chronic TMD pain was not related to familial history (OR = 1.31; 95% CI = 0.78 – 2.21). Conclusions: The presence of comorbidity was prevalent in chronic TMD pain patients. To predict the presence of comorbidities or spreading pain presence, pain duration is a feasible factor. Pain intensity can be used to predict the presence of spreading pain, but its reliability is not clear.
