Cognitive Factors Affecting Chronicity Risk of Acute and Subacute Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Abstract

Background and purpose: Chronic low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in the world. This study aimed at evaluating the risk of non-specific chronic low back pain and related cognitive risk factors. Materials and methods: This descriptive analytic study was performed in 162 patients in a military hospital in Tehran, Iran 2020. Data were collected using the STarT Back Screening Tool, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. Data analysis was carried out in SPSS V25 using independent samples t-test, Chi-square, and multiple logistic regression. Results: Among the patients, 23.40% and 25.84% had sub-acute and acute low back pains, respectively, and were at high risk for chronic low back pain. Fear-avoidance belief, fear of movement, catastrophizing the pain, and depression were found to be the major risk factors for chronicity risk of acute and sub-acute non-specific low back pain. Conclusion: Most of the patients studied were at moderate and high chronicity risk for low back pain. Therefore, determining the risk levels of chronic back pain in acute and sub-acute pains and considering all parameters affecting the chronicity of low back pain, e.g. individual and cognitive factors at the beginning of treatment are of great benefit in creating a suitable algorithm for treatment.

Keywords

• non-specific low back pain
• cognitive factor
• chronicity risk