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Along with symptom intensity, impairment of QoL and functionality should also be considered for LBP treatment evaluation; this will improve health-related outcomes and efficacy of the treatment.
Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is considered as one of the most common ailment around the world. It is very challenging to treatment and evaluation successfully in clinical practice and trials. This challenge may be attributed to the use of inadequate outcome parameters.
Gierthmühlen J and colleagues conducted a study based on the evaluation of common cLBP clinical characteristic's importance with respect to QoL and functionality. A total of 51 patients took included in the study (19 with and 32 without radiculopathy). The participants undertook and answered different types of questionnaire.
The patients with and without radiculopathy exhibited various burdening symptoms (frequency, intensity and impairment) of quality of life (QoL) and functionality. The difference was not only related to a different class of patients but also based on the different pain areas among the patients. The patients with radiculopathy reported having a higher ratio of nerve affection symptoms like numbness & prickling pain in the area of radiating pain than on the back. They also exhibited other neuropathic pain symptoms like spontaneous pain, feeling of deep pressure & pain, prickling and burning pain with high impairment rates of QoL and functionality.
However, the association between intensity, impairment of QoL and functionality expressed was uncertain. Some of the patients exhibited moderate-to-low pain intensity, but higher impairment in QoL and functionality; while others exhibited less impairment in QoL or functionality but severe pain.
The overall analysis of the study
recommended the examination of QoL and functionality impairment along with
symptom severity for evaluating treatment options for cLBP. This can help
recover the patient's total well-being and increase clinical pain trials and
patient-centred treatment efficacy.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2017 Jul 27:1-29
Sensory symptoms in low back pain - how do they matter?
Gierthmühlen J et al.
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