[Predictors of quality of life after orthopedic treatment of lower back pain due to lumbar intervertebral disc disorders]

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relevance of somatic, psychic and psychosocial factors on the health-related quality of life at the one year follow-up of patients with lower back pain.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of 109 patients recruited consecutively. At baseline and at one year follow-up self-report instruments were administered to evaluate health-related quality of life (SF-36), psychic or psychological distress (SF-36), and coping strategies (FKV-LIS).

Results: In regards to the physical and mental dimensions of the quality of life at follow-up, psychosocial factors evaluated at baseline were far more relevant. Using a multiple regression analysis we were able to account for 38 % of the variance in the physical dimension of the quality of life and 45 % of the variance in the mental dimension. In these two dimensions the factors "psychic distress" (GSI, SCL-90-R) and "sick leave" were significant predictors, in the mental dimension additionally "doctor shopping". Beyond that, impaired health-related quality of life at baseline as well as at follow-up was related to depressive coping (FKV-LIS).

Conclusions: The study shows the high impact of psychic and psychosocial factors on health-related quality of life in patients with chronic lower back pain.