Pain, nutritional status, and disability status among chronic low back pain patients with vitamin d deficiency in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

In Bangladesh, where nutritional deficiencies are widespread due to socioeconomic challenges, vitamin D deficiency is a common yet underdiagnosed issue. This study aimed to explore the pain levels, nutritional status, and disability among chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients with vitamin D deficiency in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This study was a population based cross-sectional study which examined 516 individuals with CLBP undergoing physiotherapy at leading rehabilitation centers in Dhaka, Bangladesh including the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) and the SAIC College of Medical Science & Technology. Pain levels were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), nutritional status through the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and disability extent with the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and clinical profiles, while multiple logistic regression analyses determined adjusted odds ratios. This study found that 51.6% of participants with chronic low back pain had vitamin D deficiency, with a mean age of 42.32 ± 14.86 years and an even distribution across groups. Deficient participants reported significantly lower sun exposure ( p = 0.04) and milk consumption ( p = 0.03). Although their pain severity and nutritional status scores were slightly higher; body mass index, sun-exposure habit, oily fish intake and smoking habit have emerged as potential risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency ( p < 0.05). Participants with CLBP and vitamin D deficiency reported greater suffering in terms of pain, disability, and nutritional status, with contributory factors including lower sun exposure, inadequate milk consumption, higher body mass index, and smoking. However, despite these observed trends, statistical analysis revealed no significant associations between vitamin D deficiency and the levels of pain, disability, or nutritional status among the participants.