Abstract
Background: Few studies have focused on depressive symptoms among patients with chronic low back pain in China. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain.Methods: From May to August 2021, 1,172 patients with chronic low back pain were recruited in China. Depressive symptoms were assessed through the Patient Health Questionnaire. Associations of demographic characteristics, clinical characters and social-psychological factors with depressive symptoms were investigated among patients with chronic low back pain.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 25.00%. Logistic regression analysis found that duration of pain in 1-5 years (1-3 years: OR = 2.91, 95%CI: 1.65-5.14, 3-5 years: OR = 3.09, 95%CI: 1.55-6.15) and more severe pain (OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.10-1.17) were associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms. Better family function (good family function: OR = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.15-0.41, moderate family dysfunction: OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.29-0.77) and higher pain self-efficacy (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.93-0.95) were associated with lower risks of depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Patients with chronic low back pain have a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in China. Duration of pain, pain severity, family function and pain self-efficacy were predictors of depressive symptoms among chronic low back pain patients in China. Early identification of the associated factors may be helpful for the timely management of depressive symptoms.
Highlights
Low back pain is a worldwide public health issue [1]
A previous large-scale study using South Korea national representative population data showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) was as high as 20.3%, which is much higher than 4.5% of the general population [9]
A systematic review found that the direct medical costs of CLBP patients with psychiatric disorders have increased significantly [12].it is necessary to explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms and related factors in CLBP patients, thereby developing effective intervention strategies
Summary
Chronic low back pain (CLBP), as a chronic health problem, has attracted much attention due to its features of persistent suffering, high disability rate and heavy medical burden [2]. With the prolongation of pain and the progress of the disease, the risk of psychological problems in patients with CLBP increased significantly [6]. A previous large-scale study using South Korea national representative population data showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with CLBP was as high as 20.3%, which is much higher than 4.5% of the general population [9]. A previous study revealed that CLBP patients with severe depressive symptoms have a higher disability index, and depressive symptoms are the most powerful explanation for their increased disability index [11]. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain
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