# Functional Disability Due to Chronic Low Back Pain in the Geriatric Population of a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that chronic low back pain causes significant functional disability in older adults in North India and is linked to factors like pain intensity and occupation.

## Contribution

The study provides new prevalence data and identifies sociodemographic factors linked to functional disability due to CLBP in geriatric populations in North India.

## Key findings

- 29% of participants had severe disability, 45% moderate, and 26% mild disability due to CLBP.
- Functional disability was significantly correlated with pain intensity, gender, occupation, and associated illnesses.
- Early interventions like exercise and ergonomic changes are recommended to reduce disability.

## Abstract

Background

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the painful and disabling conditions affecting the young as well as the geriatric population. There is a limited body of research to find out the impact of CLBP and functional disability on geriatric adults in the Indian region.

Aim

This study aims to determine the prevalence of functional disability due to CLBP in the geriatric population and to investigate the correlation between functional disability due to CLBP and other sociodemographic factors.

Methodology

A total of 157 geriatric adults were enrolled in the study, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Basic sociodemographic data, along with a clinical-radiological examination, was recorded. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire, and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale were used as study tools. Summary measures (frequency, mean, median, etc.) are calculated according to the level of measurement of variables. The point prevalence of functional disability due to CLBP in the geriatric population, along with 95% confidence intervals, has been calculated. The prevalence estimates were estimated and calculated with SD variables using a t-test, chi-square test, or Fisher’s exact test under bivariate analysis. The linear/logistic regression analysis was used to control for the effects of covariates. A significance level of 5% was set for all analyses due to the exploratory nature of the study. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05.

Results

According to the Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire, 29% (N = 46) of the study geriatric participants had a severe disability, 45% (N = 70) had a moderate disability, and 26% (N = 41) had a mild disability. According to the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, 34% (N = 53) had scored more than 50, and 66% (N = 104) had scored less than 50. Statistically significant correlations have been found between the level of functional disability and intensity of pain (NPRS score), gender, associated illness, current and past occupation, and clinical diagnosis of CLBP (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The prevalence of functional disability due to CLBP is higher in the geriatric population. It is associated with many influencing sociodemographic factors like gender, occupation, associated musculoskeletal illness, the intensity of low back pain, and clinico-radiological diagnosis. Early identification and timely interventions to reduce functional disability due to CLBP and associated risk factors are the need of the hour. Regular back muscle exercises, ergonomic modifications, and modification of activities of daily life are recommended to prevent functional disability due to CLBP.