"Sore Back" May Not Be Just Simple Pain... "Neglect Could Be Serious"

Researchers Reveal Analysis of Chronic Lower Back Pain Patients
"Chronic Lower Back Pain Is Part of a Broader Health Crisis"

A study has found that chronic lower back pain cannot simply be regarded as a musculoskeletal issue. Six out of ten pain patients were found to be suffering from other chronic diseases such as heart disease, depression, and arthritis.

A joint research team from the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil published these findings in the September-October issue of the Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy. The study analyzed data from 87,678 adults who participated in Brazil's National Health Survey in 2019.

A study has revealed that chronic lower back pain cannot be simply regarded as a musculoskeletal issue. Photo by Getty Images

The analysis showed that 21.6% of all participants reported chronic lower back pain, and among them, 62.1% had at least one additional chronic disease. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease among those with lower back pain was 40.5%, which is 17.7 percentage points higher than among those without pain (22.8%). Arthritis and rheumatism were reported at rates of 19.3% versus 4.3%, and depression at 19.3% versus 7.7%, nearly a threefold difference in both cases.

Additionally, 10.8% of lower back pain patients had diabetes, and 6.9% had asthma. Among patients with comorbidities, the proportion of women was more than 20 percentage points higher, the average age was 12 years older, and the average BMI (body mass index) was 1.4 kg/m² higher. Notably, 81.1% of patients suffering from both lower back pain and depression were women.

Six out of ten pain patients were found to be suffering from other chronic diseases such as heart disease, depression, and arthritis. Pixabay

Although this study was based on data from Brazil, similar trends have been observed in developed countries such as Germany, Australia, and the United States. The researchers emphasized, "Regardless of economic status, chronic lower back pain should be viewed as part of a widespread health crisis."

The researchers also noted, "Although a significant proportion of chronic lower back pain patients suffer from multiple diseases simultaneously, current clinical guidelines do not reflect this reality," adding that "tailored treatment strategies that consider comorbidities such as heart disease, depression, and arthritis are needed."