Abstract
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aging adds to the prevalence of chronic diseases and functional impairment. Depressive symptoms and chronic low back pain affect an increasing number of elderly people and become important research topics. This study aimed to identify the relationship between chronic low back pain intensity, its generated disability, and the presence of depressive symptoms in independent elderly people for basic daily activities. METHODS: The study is descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional. A sample of independent elderly patients with chronic low back pain (n=46) enrolled in the Family Health Units of the city of Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil, was analyzed. For collection, we used the Characterization Sheet, Multidimensional Pain Rating Scale, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. The data obtained were input in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS) for Windows to perform the descriptive and Spearman correlational analysis. The ethical precepts for research with humans of the National Health Council were respected. RESULTS: The most frequent pain intensity perceived by the elderly was intense (43.5%, n=20), preceded by moderate pain (41.3%, n=19). Most of the elderly describe low back pain as persistent, painful, and uncomfortable. The mean total depression score was 4.37 points (Md=4.00, SD=2.67, xmin = 0.00, xmax = 11.00). CONCLUSION: Correlational analyses showed that there is a significant directly proportional relationship between the intensity of low back pain and the number of weak depressive symptoms, and a significant directly proportional relationship between the number of disabilities/limitations caused by low back pain and the number of moderate depressive symptoms.
Highlights
The world population is in the process of demographic transition, leading to an inversion of the age pyramid[1]
Correlational analyses showed that there is a significant directly proportional relationship between the intensity of low back pain and the number of weak depressive symptoms, and a significant directly proportional relationship between the number of disabilities/limitations caused by low back pain and the number of moderate depressive symptoms
Considering the criteria established by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) – absence of an apparent biological basis and duration for three months or more, “the prevalence of chronic pain in the general population of developed countries indicates an average of 35.5%, varying from 11.5 to 55.5 %, being of intense characteristic in 11% of the adults”[13]
Summary
The world population is in the process of demographic transition, leading to an inversion of the age pyramid[1]. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the relationship between LBP and depressive symptoms remains in older people who do not have any impairment in their basic daily life activities (BDLA). Another interesting aspect would be to evaluate and characterize, using a specific and standardized methodology, the disability that chronic LBP brings to the elderly. This study aimed to identify the relationship between chronic low back pain intensity, its generated disability, and the presence of depressive symptoms in independent elderly people for basic daily activities.
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