POS1287\u2005ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME AND PAIN INTENSITY IN PATIENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN

Abstract

Common low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem affecting 50 to 80% of working age adults resulting in significant personal, social and occupational impairment. Chronic pain has a negative impact on quality of life and psychological well-being.The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between anxiety, depression and pain intensity in patients with low back pain in a population made of military agents.It was an analytical cross-sectional study including 50 patients with at least three months of LBP, in the department of rheumatology and orthopedics at the Military Hospital of Tunis between January 1st and March 31, 2020. All patients had a standardized clinical assessment. Patients completed the «hospital anxiety and depression scale» (HADS) and the «Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool» (FIRST) to evaluate psychological impact of chronic LBP. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS).The mean age of the patients was 41.9 ± 8.4 years and the sex ratio was 4.5. LBP duration was 66.4 months. The mean lumbar visual analog scale (VAS) was 4.5 ± 1.9, and the root VAS was 2.6 ± 2.5. Neuropathic pain was found in 26% of patients. Abnormal level of anxiety and depression were found in 58% and 62% of the patients respectively. Out of them 20% and 26% were borderline abnormal for anxiety and depression respectively, while 38% (16.4%) and 36% were certainly abnormal for anxiety and depression respectively. Twelve percent of the patients had fibromyalgia syndrome associated with LBP as they had a FIRST score ≥5. Positive correlations were found between lumbar VAS and HAD anxiety/depression scores (r = 0.35; p<0.01/ r = 0.3; p = 0.04). Positive correlations were also found between root VAS and HAD anxiety/depression (R= 0.38; P<0.01/ R=0.29; P=0.03). There was positive correlations between Fibromyalgia syndrome (FIRST scale) and lumbar VAS (r= 0.42; p=0.01) and root VAS (R= 0.29; P<0.01).The results of this study showed that anxiety, depression and fibromyalgia syndrome are not only frequent with patient suffering from chronic LBP but they are also correlated to the pain intensity. As a consequence, assessment of and intervention in anxiety, depression symptoms and fibromyalgia syndrome is crucial in the provision of pain-relief nursing treatment in patients with low back pain.None declared