Most Chronic Back Pain Patients Face Multiple Health Conditions

University of Technology Sydney researchers found that 62.1% of adults with chronic back pain also battle at least one other chronic illness. The study analyzed Brazil’s 2019 National Health Survey data from 87,678 adults, with 21.6% reporting chronic back pain. Heart disease affected 40.5% of back pain patients versus 22.8% without back issues. Arthritis struck 19.3% of back pain sufferers compared to 4.3% of others. Depression rates nearly tripled from 7.7% to 19.3% among those with back pain. Women comprised 81.1% of cases involving back pain plus depression, and 79.3% of arthritis-back pain combinations. People with back pain and arthritis showed twice the likelihood of activity limitations. Only 25.9% of patients with multiple conditions reported no activity limitations, compared to 41.5% with back pain alone. (Story URL)