Assessment of quality of life in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain depending on the dominant type of pain

Chronic low back pain is a multifactorial problem that leads to impaired functioning, vitality, and quality of life. Assessing quality of life in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain depending on the type of pain that dominates is of clinical and scientific interest. Objective — to assess the quality of life of patients with chronic nonspecific lower back pain depending on the dominant type of pain in order to develop effective management strategies for this problem. Materials and methods. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire and examination were conducted among 102 people with chronic nonspecific lower back pain, aged 18—65, who were undergoing rehabilitation in the rehabilitation department of the University Clinic of the Bogomolets National Medical University. The subjects were surveyed, which included: socio-demographic and anthropometric data, lifestyle data, harmful habits, level of physical activity, and quality of life assessment using the SF-36 questionnaire. Results and discussion. The average age of the study participants was (37.7 ± 13.9) years, with 63 % women and 37 % men. It was found that in the majority (54 %), the nociceptive type dominated, in 22 % the nociceptive type, neuropathic pain in 16 %, and in 8 % of the subjects, it was not possible to determine the dominant type of pain. The lowest quality of life scores across all scales were observed in the group with dominant nociplastic pain. Among patients with the dominant nociceptive type of pain, compared to the group with nociceptive and neuropathic types, lower quality of life scores were found on the following scales: physical functioning (p < 0.001, p = 0.307), role functioning (p < 0.001, p = 0.006), emotional functioning (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), life energy (p < 0.001, p = 0.001), social functioning (p < 0.001, p = 0.002), pain (p < 0.001, p = 0.002), general health (p < 0.001, p = 0.003), mental health (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Among patients with neuropathic pain, quality of life scores were significantly lower than in patients with nociceptive pain for physical functioning (p = 0.008) and general health (p = 0.023). Conclusions. Most individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain had a nociceptive dominant type of pain. Among individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain with different dominant pain types, statistically significantly lower quality of life scores on all scales were observed in the group with nociceptive pain. A multidisciplinary treatment strategy that includes psychological interventions, active rehabilitation interventions, and lifestyle modifications may provide a more comprehensive solution for improving the quality of life of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.