Pain intensity, catastrophizing, and disability in adults with chronic low back pain: Does gender play a role? A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to explore gender differences in sociodemographic characteristics, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and back pain-related disability in adults with chronic low back pain.

A cross-sectional study involving adults with chronic low back pain was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Dhulikhel, Nepal. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire that assessed factors such as age, gender, body mass index, education, occupation, family income, religion, ethnicity, existing diseases, sleep duration, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and activity level. Pain intensity was measured using Numerical Rating Scale, pain catastrophizing was assessed with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and back pain-related disability was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index. Gender differences in these variables were analyzed using Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, depending on data normality, while categorical variables were examined using Chi-square/Fisher's exact tests.

We recruited 101 participants, of whom 52 (51.5%) were women, and all participants successfully completed the survey. Occupation, smoking, alcohol consumption, and activity levels differed significantly between genders (p 0.05), with women more involved in household work and men more likely to smoke, consume alcohol, and engage in vigorous activities. Women reported significantly higher levels of pain intensity and pain catastrophizing compared to men (p0.05). However, no significant gender differences were found in other sociodemographic variables and disability scores.

This study underscores the importance of recognizing gender differences in chronic low back pain, which may affect treatment strategies and patient outcomes. This finding highlights the need for future research to investigate gender-specific treatment modalities, examine underlying biological and psychosocial factors, and assess how gender interacts with other sociodemographic variables to influence the management and recovery of low back pain in Nepal.

The study suggests that gender-specific factors, including occupational status, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, activity level, pain intensity, and pain catastrophizing, should be taken into account when designing tailored treatment strategies for chronic low back pain.