Meta-analysis of the global prevalence of oral and facial pain.

Abstract

Background: Pain is one of the most fundamental yet complex human biological experiences. A distinct category within this domain is orofacial pain. The orofacial region is anatomically complex, comprising a dense network of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. This complexity often makes the diagnosis and management of conditions affecting this area particularly challenging for clinicians.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to determine the global prevalence of oral and facial pain in the general population and to assess its distribution across different continents.

Material and methods: Literature searches were conducted in the MEDLINE and Scopus databases. This analysis synthesized data from 155 observational studies published between 2004 and 2024, encompassing 1,712,161 participants and 163,154 reported cases. Statistical analyses were performed using the R statistical language.

Results: The pooled global prevalence of concurrent oral and facial pain was 19.19%. By continent, the prevalence rates were as follows: Africa - 27.44%; Asia - 30.78%; Australia - 15.58%; Europe - 12.27%; North America - 14.53%; and South America - 25.61%.

Conclusions: Globally, the prevalence of concurrent oral and facial pain is 19%, compared with 12% for facial pain alone, and 21% for oral pain. Concurrent oral and facial pain was most common among individuals under 18 years of age (24%), decreasing to 16% among those aged 18-60 years and 10% in those aged >60 years. Females reported a higher prevalence (21%) of oral and facial pain than males (15%). Overall, the burden of concurrent oral and facial pain is greatest in Asia and South America, particularly among females, where prevalence exceeds 28%, while the lowest rates are found in Europe, especially among males (8%). The results of the present study should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity of the included studies. Further epidemiological research is recommended, employing rigorous methodology and adhering to current pain classification systems.