Number of people with chronic pain to increase by 2m by 2040

Almost 2 million more people will be suffering from sore backs, necks and other body parts by 2040 due to a surge in chronic pain as the UK's population ages, research shows.

- Denis Campbell

The number of people in England aged 20 and over with chronic pain is expected to soar from 5.345 million in 2019 to 7.247 million, according to the Health Foundation thinktank.

That 1.9 million rise means the proportion of the population whose lives are blighted by the condition will increase from 12.4% to 14.4%.

That will add to the strain on NHS GP services and hospitals and also increase its spending on pain-relieving drugs.

Those aged 50 to 69 will be the most affected, with some left in such pain that they cannot work, adding to the record 2.8 million people across the UK who are already too ill to do so.