Sexual disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain-a multicenter retrospective analysis.
Silvano Ferrari, Carla Vanti, Luca Frigau and 5 others
PMID 31037010WHAT IT FOUND
In 697 chronic low back pain patients, 11.05% skipped the sexual Oswestry item.
Among responders, 37% reported sexual problems and 7% strong limitation. Sexual item scores were associated with total disability; in 112 patients, with activity avoidance and depression.
Key findings
01Seventy-seven participants did not answer ODI-8, corresponding to 11.05% of the whole sample, and this was higher than non-response to other ODI items (range 0 to 0.29%).
02A higher sexual item score went with a higher total Oswestry disability score (r=0.72), and the sexual item remained significant in a model of total disability (p<0.001).
03In the 112 patients with psychological data, higher activity avoidance and depression scores were significantly associated with the sexual item (p=0.002 and p=0.003).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study reviewed existing records from patients starting conservative treatment, so it did not follow patients over time or test whether treatment changed sexual disability. The sexual life item was optional, and 11.05% of patients did not answer it, so sexual disability prevalence cannot be known for the whole sample. The authors did not use a specific sexual dysfunction questionnaire; they used one Oswestry Disability Index item. Psychological variables were available for only 112 patients, so associations with activity avoidance, depression and rumination rest on a smaller subset. The sample was from three clinics in northern Italy and had a medium-high education level, so results may not apply to all Italian patients. Missing data were omitted from correlation and regression analyses.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the sexual item as proof that pain caused sexual disability. This retrospective baseline record review found associations, not a treatment effect.