TITLE:
Quality of Life of Patients Followed for Common Low Back Pain: A Case-Control Study
AUTHORS:
Norbert Edgard Lamini N’Soundhat, Edie Francina Bakalé Omboumahou, Daphtone Chabel Nkouala-Kidédé, Romaric Affleck Ledier Angalla, Bernadette Nkoumou Yandza, Anah Précieu Salemo, Richard Bileckot
KEYWORDS:
Low Back Pain, Quality of Life, Disability, Brazzaville
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.15 No.1,
February
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Common low-back pain is a frequent reason for consultation and a genuine public health problem. Preserving quality of life remains one of the main challenges. Objective: To evaluate the quality of life of patients with low back pain seen in rheumatology consultations at Brazzaville University Hospital. Patients and Method: Cross-sectional, analytical study with control group, conducted at the Brazzaville University Hospital, from January 2 to September 30, 2023. Patients over 30 years of age, seen for documented common low-back pain, were included. Study variables were epidemiological, clinical and functional. The EIFEL and SF-36 scores were used to assess functional impact and quality of life, respectively. Results: We included 96 people divided into two groups: 48 patients with low back pain and 48 controls. The frequency of common low-back pain was 12.8%. The mean age of patients with low back pain was 59.14 ± 11.86 years. Women predominated (sex ratio 0.3). Degenerative disc disease was the main etiology. Common low-back pain had a moderate impact on functional abilities, with a mean EIFEL score of 11 +/− 5.51. Quality of life was impaired in patients with low back pain (overall SF-36 at 43.95%) compared with the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P Conclusion: Common low back pain affects patients’ overall quality of life, particularly in terms of physical pain and limitations due to physical condition.