Quality of Life of Patients with Back Pain

Abstract

Introduction. Spinal pains regard people of different age and professions, being also a difficult problem which generates limitations in the professional, social and family spheres and it results in the deterioration of the quality of life.
Aim. Determination of the quality of life of patients with the degenerative disease of the spine before surgery by the assessment of the intensity of pain and mood.
Material and Methods. The research covered 90 patients with the osteoarthritis of the spine diagnosed, before surgery, hospitalized in the Department of Neurosurgery at USK in Białystok. The research was carried out based on our questionnaire prepared for the need of work as well as on standardized research tools and the BMI indicator.
Results. The research covered 40 (44.4%) women and 50 (55.6%) men at the average age of 48.5±12.3 years (18–78 years). The average value of the body weight index (BMI) was 26.8±4.6 kg/m2 (16.3–38 kg/m2). Back pain mostly concerned lumbar (58;64.4%) and cervical (39;43.3%) sections. The average degree of pain according to the VAS descriptive scale was 57.8±23.3%. The strongest pain was felt by those whose illness affected absence from work and who indicated decrease of the quality of life. Depressive disorders occurred in 37 (41.11%) patients and were of mild and moderately severe nature. Average severity of pain in patients without depression was 52.83±20.86%, whereas in those with depression 64.86±25.12% (p=0.015). There was no evidence of the effect of the disease and the coexistence of depression on the performance of professional duties, quality of life, presence at work or limited contact with others. However, persons with depression significantly more often assessed their current health status as poor (p=0.011).
Conclusions.
1. Back pain often included one or two sections of the spine and the degree of pain perceived generated deterioration in the quality of life caused by an increase in absence from work, severity of depression, limited social interaction, and difficulties in carrying out physiological functions.
2. Depressive disorders more often occurred in patients with changes in the cervical and lumbar sections of the spine, in residents of large cities, married, retired and non-smokers, exposed however to stress. These people often underwent diagnostic tests, the number of hospitalizations increased and their duration was extended. (JNNN 2014; 3(3):107–115)