Non-Cochrane · prognostic · PM41760141

Prognostic factors for pain intensity and function in individuals with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Amaral Maitê, Fukusawa Leandro, Lourenço Bianca Martins, et al. · BMJ open · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103638

Findings

Population Adults with temporomandibular disorders (TMD)

17 findings

Prognostic factor: Somatization levelLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (unadjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.044 [1.014, 1.074]
GRADE not reported
Studies not reported
Higher somatization level (prognostic factor)Lower somatization levelPain intensity course (worse pain prognosis), adjusted analysis
Follow-up of 3 months or longer (6 months to 11 years across studies) · Not specified · Adjusted estimates
OR 1.476 [0.519, 4.2]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
2 studies
Prognostic factor: Self-efficacyLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (unadjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 0.86 [0.72, 1.02]
GRADE not reported
Studies not reported
Higher self-efficacy (prognostic factor)Lower self-efficacyFunctional outcome (mandibular function), adjusted analysis
Follow-up of 3 months or longer (6 months to 11 years across studies) · Not specified · Adjusted estimates
OR 0.971 [0.593, 1.59]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
2 studies
Prognostic factor: Self-efficacyLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 0.971 [0.593, 1.59]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
2 studies
Higher baseline pain intensity (prognostic factor)Lower baseline pain intensityFunctional outcome (mandibular function), adjusted analysis
Follow-up of 3 months or longer (6 months to 11 years across studies) · Not specified · Adjusted estimates
OR 1.386 [1.138, 1.689]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
2 studies
Prognostic factor: Pain intensityLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (unadjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.23 [1.13, 1.49]
GRADE not reported
Studies not reported
Prognostic factor: Pain intensityLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.16 [0.786, 1.711]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
3 studies
Prognostic factor: Number of disability daysLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.079 [0.939, 1.239]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
2 studies
Greater number of disability days (prognostic factor)Fewer disability daysFunctional outcome (mandibular function), adjusted analysis
Follow-up of 3 months or longer (6 months to 11 years across studies) · Not specified · Adjusted estimates
OR 1.079 [0.939, 1.239]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
2 studies
Prognostic factor: GenderLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.121 [0.474, 2.652]
Low
Downgraded: risk of bias, publication bias
2 studies
Prognostic factor: GenderLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (unadjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.73 [1.16, 2.59]
GRADE not reported
Studies not reported
Prognostic factor: DepressionLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (unadjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.29 [0.48, 3.48]
GRADE not reported
Studies not reported
Prognostic factor: DepressionLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.063 [0.813, 1.39]
Very low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, publication bias
2 studies
Prognostic factor: AgeLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (unadjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1 [0.99, 1.01]
GRADE not reported
Studies not reported
Prognostic factor: AgeLower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1 [0.982, 1.018]
Moderate
Downgraded: risk of bias
2 studies
Prognostic factor: Disability (function-related)Lower level or absence of the factor (reference not specified)Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (unadjusted analysis)
Follow-up 6 months to 11 years across studies · Not specified
OR 1.057 [0.907, 1.232]
GRADE not reported
Studies not reported

Included primary studies 9

Open in Studies
StudyYearAlso included byOutcomes it informs hereTrial data
Banafa 2020
Factors associated with signs of temporomandibular pain: an 11-year-follow-up study on Finnish adults.
PMID:31401930
2020this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Banafa 2023
Association between cynical hostility and temporomandibular pain mediated through somatization and depression: an 11-year follow-up study…
PMID:35731236
2023this review onlyPain intensity course (worse pain prognosis), adjusted analysisnot extracted yet
Forssell 2017
Predictors for future clinically significant pain in patients with temporomandibular disorder: A prospective cohort study.
PMID:27461164
2017this review onlyPain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis); PM41760141-P2-O2; PM41760141-P3-O2; PM41760141-P4-O2not extracted yet
Jung 2021
Influence of psychological factors on the prognosis of temporomandibular disorders pain.
PMID:33384819
2021this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Lovgren 2025
Women are worse off in developing and recovering from temporomandibular disorder symptoms.
PMID:39922904
2025this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Meloto 2019
Clinical predictors of persistent temporomandibular disorder in people with first-onset temporomandibular disorder: A prospective…
PMID:31248483
2019this review onlyPain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis); PM41760141-P3-O2; PM41760141-P4-O2not extracted yet
Rammelsberg 2003
Longitudinal outcome of temporomandibular disorders: a 5-year epidemiologic study of muscle disorders defined by research diagnostic…
PMID:12756926
2003this review onlyPain intensity course (worse pain prognosis), adjusted analysis; Pain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis)not extracted yet
Rollman 2013
Improvement in patients with a TMD-pain report. A 6-month follow-up study.
PMID:23062033
2013this review onlyPain intensity/course of TMD pain over follow-up (adjusted analysis); PM41760141-P2-O2not extracted yet
Slade 2014
Pressure pain thresholds fluctuate with, but do not usefully predict, the clinical course of painful temporomandibular disorder.
PMID:25130428
2014this review onlynot statednot extracted yet

Review question

ElementPlanned (methods)Found (results)
PopulationIndividuals of any age or sex with TMD (articular, myogenic, arthrogenic or mixed), acute or chronicAdults with TMD (n=99,051 in total; n=4282 in quantitative analyses)
InterventionPrognostic factors for TMD course56 candidate prognostic factors after standardization (80 initially identified); 7 pooled for pain (gender, age, depression, somatization, number of disability days, pain intensity, self-efficacy) and 3 pooled for function (pain intensity, number of disability days, self-efficacy)
ComparisonNot specifiedNot specified
OutcomesLongitudinal change in pain intensity and functional status; secondary: symptom progression, subsequent treatment needs, psychosocial outcomesPain intensity course and mandibular function; secondary outcomes could not be analyzed
Study designsProspective and retrospective observational studies; case-control studies and RCTs also considered9 prospective longitudinal studies (6 cohort, 1 case-control, 2 described as prospective longitudinal)
TimingShort-term (up to 3 months) or long-term (over 3 months) follow-upFollow-up from 6 months to 11 years