Predictors of Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Non-specific Low Back Pain

This study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with non-specific LBP and its predictors at a physiotherapy outpatient clinic in a tertiary health institution located in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria. The subjects were asked to complete the SF 36, Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ) and Quadruple Visual Analogue scale (QVAS). Socio-demographic and LBP-related information were also obtained using a specially designed proforma. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the influence of the sociodemographic and LBP-related variables on the HRQOL of the respondents. Absence of numbness in the lower limb (p=0.043) and being a female were significant positive predictors of total quality of life (TQOL) score. Increasing age (p=0.005), pain (p=0.038) and level of disability (p<0.0001) were significant negative predictors of TQOL score. Evidence from this study shows that increasing age and level of disability adversely affected the HRQOL of LBP patients more than just the pain (which affects the physical component of HRQOL more). Female patients reported better HRQOL. The presence of numbness in the lower limb is the major symptom that significantly affects all the components of HRQOL adversely. The predictor of HRQOL in this population is not different from that in Asian and Caucasian populations.