PAIN AND HEALTH-STATUS OF PRIMARY-CARE PATIENTS WITH LOW-BACK-PAIN

BACKGROUND. In addition to the pain caused by low back problems, suffe ring may also adversely affect other aspects of patients' lives. Since there is little knowledge about the suffering caused by low back pain , a prospective cohort study was undertaken to study pain intensity, p erceived health, and daily functioning of consecutive patients with lo w back pain presenting in general practice. METHODS. During a period o f 2 years, 15 general practitioners enlisted consecutive patients with both chronic and recent-onset low back pain in the study. From the in itial visit, each patient was monitored for a period of 6 months prosp ectively. The follow-up consisted of questionnaires mailed every 4 wee ks to determine the intensity of the pain, perceived health, and daily functioning. RESULTS. Of the 605 patients identified, 430 were includ ed in the follow-up; 6 months after the initial visit, 167 patients we re lost to follow-up. At baseline, the analyses did not reveal any imp ortant differences between acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain. Pain intensity, perceived health, and daily functioning in all patien ts tended to resolve over time. This tendency was strongest in patient s with acute low back pain. The change in pain intensity was not stron gly correlated with changes in perceived health and daily functioning. CONCLUSIONS. All aspects of suffering caused by low back pain tend to diminish and resolve over time. No evidence was found of a relationshi p between perceived health or daily functioning and the duration of th e low back pain.