The Risk Factors of Chronic Low Backache in Patients Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital of Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To identify the risk factors of chronic low backache in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Rheumatology, Fuji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Nov 2018 to Apr 2019.

Methodology: Patients of ages between 18-80 years of ages with mechanical low backache were selected excluding those with malignancy and inflammatory backache. Patient’s characteristics including gender, age, education, monthly income, smoking status, exercise, previous back trauma, spinal surgery, posture mostly adopted, sleeping material, body mass index (BMI), and co-morbidities were noted down. For assessment of disability and depression Quebec disability index and patient health questionnaire (PHQ9) were used.

Results: This study included 155 patients with backache with mean age (in years) of 55.45 ± 10.772. Mean duration of backache was 4.78 ± 4.36 years. Most common risk factor for low backache was age >40 years present in 144 patients (92.9%). 136 patients (87.7%) were not doing regular physical exercise.62.5% patients (97) were uneducated and 90 patients (58%) had low income. 82 patients (52.9%) used soft sleeping material. By using Quebec disability index, 57 patients (36.7%) were classified as having severe disability. Mild depression was present in 75 patients (48.3%) when assessed on PHQ-9 scale.

Conclusion: Back pain was caused by many factors. Lack of regular exercise and education, use of soft sleeping material and in appropriate sitting posture can be addressed by education of the patients.