de Castro Alcantara AC, Rocha HAL, de Oliveira JL, Baraliakos X, Rocha FAC. Having chronic back pain did not impact COVID-19 outcome in a low-income population - a retrospective observational study.
Adv Rheumatol 2024;
64:7. [PMID:
38212832 DOI:
10.1186/s42358-023-00347-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Chronic back pain (CBP) is a major cause of years lived with disability. Social inequalities increase the prevalence and burden of CBP. Management of CBP was affected by restricted access to non-pharmacological treatments and outdoor activities during COVID-19 pandemic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of CBP among patients with COVID-19 as well as the impact of having CBP in COVID-19 outcome in our low-income population.
METHODS
Retrospective cohort of individuals with confirmed COVID diagnosis from May 2020 - March 2021, at Hospital Regional UNIMED (HRU) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Data included comorbidities and household income.
RESULTS
Among 1,487 patients, 600 (40.3%) were classified as having CBP. Mean age as well as income were similar in CBP and non-CBP groups, with more women in the CBP group. Hypertension and asthma, but not diabetes, were more prevalent in those with CBP. Need for emergency care, hospitalization, and admission to intensive care unit were similar regardless of having CBP. Dyspnea was more common in CBP vs. non-CBP groups, with 48.8% vs. 39.4% percentages, respectively (p = 0.0004).
CONCLUSION
Having CBP prior to COVID did not impact the acute clinical outcome of COVID individuals of a low-income population.
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