Table 2.

Pain and QoL outcomes

	All (n = 280)	HZ within previous 12 months (n = 102)	Age (years) 50–59 (n = 130)	≥60 (n = 150)	Patient category
					With HZ (n = 248)	With PHN (n = 32)
A. Level of pain
Pain score (0–10 scale), mean
On average	6.3	6.6	6.3	6.3	6.2	7.1*
At worst	7.2	7.3	7.3	7.0	7.0	8.2*
High pain level (score 8–10), % patients
On average	31	36	29	31	29	41
At worst	49	52	52	49	48	62
B. Limitations experienced on activities of daily living
Moderate physical efforts,a % patients
Limited at least a bitb	68	66	67	68	65	85
Limited a lot	25	28	23	27	23	41*
Climbing flights of stairs, % patients
Limited at least a bitb	43	45	45	41	40	65
Limited a lot	14	14	15	14	12	31*
Consequences for family members and social circle, % patients	53	53	53	54	50	81
C. Feelings of stress and enjoyment of leisure activities
Stressed at some timec, % patients	80	81	80	79	78	91
Stressed most of the time, % patients	22	21	20	23	19	41*
Did not enjoy leisure activitiesd, % patients	37	31	42	33	36	47

*P < 0.05 versus corresponding group. ^aModerate physical efforts include repositioning a table, vacuum cleaning and playing bowling. ^bPhysical efforts limited at least a bit includes ‘a bit’ and ‘a lot.’ ^cStressed at some time includes ‘most of the time,’ ‘long time’ and ‘sometimes.’ ^dDid not enjoy leisure activities includes ‘rarely enjoyed’ and ‘very rarely enjoyed;’ leisure activities include reading a book, listening to the radio or watching TV