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Influence of frailty status on the health-related quality of life in older patients with chronic low back pain: a retrospective observational study

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Abstract

Purpose

Understanding the influence of frailty on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older individuals experiencing chronic low back pain can provide valuable insights into the impact of frailty. Therefore, the aim of our study is to assess how different frailty statuses among older outpatients with chronic low back pain affect their HRQoL.

Methods

Patients aged 60 and above with chronic low back pain were recruited from March 2022 to February 2023. Frailty was assessed via the frailty phenotype questionnaire, and HRQoL was evaluated using the EQ-5D-5L. Multiple regression models were used to explore the influence of frailty status on the EQ-5D-5L index and EQ-VAS. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios for the impact of frailty status on belonging to the lowest EQ-5D-5L index quartile.

Results

A total of 1,054 participants were classified into robust (29.8%), pre-frail (47.7%), and frail (22.5%) groups. Frailty was significantly associated with declining HRQoL. Pre-frail and frail statuses were inversely linked to the EQ-5D-5L index, with significantly higher odds of scoring in the lowest quartile compared to robust individuals. Stratification analysis identified sex as an effect modifier, emphasizing a more substantial association between frailty and the lowest EQ-5D-5L index quartile in female patients.

Conclusions

A significant association exists between frailty and reduced HRQoL in patients with chronic low back pain. This association was predominant in female patients. Furthermore, considering the dynamic nature of frailty, early detection and effective interventions targeting pre-frailty are essential to delaying the transition to full frailty and improving HRQoL.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank C.H. Hwang, BS, for helping with data analysis for this study.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation Korea grant funded by the Korea government (No. RS-2023-00245723).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea

    Hee Jung Kim, Byongnam Jun, Hee Won Lee & Shin Hyung Kim

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Contributions

HJK: investigation, data curation, methodology, manuscript writing, and manuscript editing, BJ: data curation and manuscript editing, HWL: data curation and formal analysis, SHK: conceptualization, study design, data analysis, funding acquisition, and manuscript review and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shin Hyung Kim.

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Kim, H.J., Jun, B., Lee, H.W. et al. Influence of frailty status on the health-related quality of life in older patients with chronic low back pain: a retrospective observational study. Qual Life Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-024-03658-4

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