Assessment and correlation between clinical patterns, disability and health-related quality of life in patients with low back pain

AIM: Low back pain (LBP) is the main symptom of most lumbar spine diseases. This symptom, due to physical, psychological and social factors, is correlated to a real disability which can affect the quality of life (QoL.) The aim of this study is to evaluate the QoL and the disability in patients with LBP and to correlate them to clinical patterns. METHODS: In this prospective multidimensional study, 108 patients underwent the following protocol: 1. collection of patient-oriented and disability data with the use of SF-36 and North American Spine Society (NASS); 2. collection of clinical, anamnestic and instrumental data (MRI, CT) with the use of DOVAC files; 3. assessment of disability with the use of Barthel index (BI) and deambulation index (DI). RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between the BI and the physical composite score (PCS), but no significant correlation was noticed between BI and the mental composite score (MCS). DI was not correlated to the SF-36. A positive Lasegue and the absence of the osteo-tendinous reflexes are significantly correlated to the disability and QoL. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that there is no simple, linear correlation between QoL and disability.